UK anti-doping have launched an investigation into allegations that a senior Rugby Football League official has been involved in supplying recreational drugs to players.
Telegraph Sport has learnt that UKAD began making enquiries last month after the RFL informed the doping enforcement agency that they were investigating allegations they had received about a member of their own staff.
UKAD are in the process of collecting evidence after being passed allegations involving the supply of drugs to a handful of players.
The RFL official is alleged to have supplied a range of individuals with a strong connection to the sport, including ex-professionals and semi-professionals, as well as grass-roots players.
The allegations are understood to have come from a whistleblower with allegations of the RFL official buying cocaine for personal use and arranging to sell it on.
The RFL passed details of the allegations to UKAD given they involved an individual working in a professional sporting environment. UKAD and the RFL declined to comment.
Rugby league has attracted considerable negative publicity due to drug-taking from players in recent years.
Former Bradford Bulls winger David Foggin-Johnston was given a two-year ban after testing positive for cocaine last summer, following similar bans given to England internationals Rangi Chase and Zak Hardaker. Former Man of Steel winner Chase received the third drugs ban of his career last year after testing positive for cocaine.
In addition to Foggin-Johnston there are currently seven rugby league players serving UKAD bans for taking performance enhancing drugs, but many in the sport believe that recreational drug use amongst players is a far bigger problem.
One club executive told Telegraph Sport that social drug use is a serious problem for rugby league, while former Leigh Centurions prop Jamie Acton claimed it was endemic after he was banned following a positive cocaine test two years ago.
“You’re probably abnormal in the rugby league world if you haven’t taken drugs at some point, whether that is socially or performance‑enhancing,” Acton said.
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