FORMER Bedwas full-back Kurt Clabby has been handed a four-year ban for deliberately avoiding a drug-testing official to miss an out-of-competition test.

The 29-year-old from Caerphilly was playing for the Principality Premiership club when he failed to report for the test on December 1, 2015.

Bedwas head coach Steve Law had informed Clabby that he and three other players needed to submit a sample for a test after a training session.

However, Clabby was nowhere to be found when the time came and could not be reached by phone by a UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) official.

He claimed he had to deal with an emergency at work but it transpired that his supervisor had tried, and failed, to get in touch with him before the training session.

Clabby, who has also turned out for Nelson, is banned from all sport from January 28 of last year to January 27, 2020.

UKAD chief executive Nicole Sapstead said: “Kurt Clabby’s decision to evade sample collection is not just a serious breach of the rules but it also goes against the spirit of sport and his responsibility as a sportsperson.

“We treat violations such as this with the upmost seriousness and we will always seek to impose the maximum possible sanction on any individual who decides to consciously cheat the system.”

Clabby joins a growing list of Welsh rugby players who are serving, or have served, bans for doping violations.

A Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) statement said: “Following a four-year suspension to Kurt Clabby of Bedwas and Nelson for evading, refusing or failing to submit a sample collection, the WRU has reiterated its call for players to 'Stay Onside'.

“The Welsh Rugby Union has increased its level of anti-doping education across all levels of Welsh rugby and has invited community clubs to nominate club integrity officers to receive further guidance.

“There is no place for doping in Welsh rugby.”