Six international players handed huge drugs bans - list includes England prop

From former Lions to Wallabies and Springboks, here are six of the most infamous doping bans in modern rugby history.

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Once the poster boy of English rugby, Stevens’ fall from grace came in 2009 after testing positive for cocaine following a Heineken Cup match. The Bath prop received a two-year ban, later admitting his addiction.

His suspension triggered chaos at Bath, with teammates Michael Lipman, Alex Crockett, and Andrew Higgins also departing in disgrace after refusing drugs tests.

To his credit, Stevens made a remarkable comeback. He joined Saracens, won the Premiership in 2011, returned to the England squad for the 2011 World Cup, and even toured with the British & Irish Lions in 2013.

Caught up in the same Bath scandal, Wallaby lock Justin Harrison admitted to cocaine use at the club’s end-of-season party. The fallout saw him hit with an eight-month ban in 2009.

Though he announced his retirement shortly after, Harrison made a brief comeback with the Brumbies in 2010 before calling time on his career for good.

One of rugby’s most explosive wingers, Wendell Sailor was banned for two years in 2006 after testing positive for cocaine during his time with the Waratahs.

The dual-code star claimed it was recreational, not performance-enhancing – but it didn’t matter. The punishment ended his union career, but he bounced back in league, signing for St George Illawarra Dragons in 2008.

Now a respected coach, Johan Ackermann's playing career was nearly derailed early on. In 1997, the hulking lock received a two-year ban after testing positive for the steroid nandrolone, used to help an ankle injury.

He worked as a police officer during his time out, then returned to top-level rugby with a vengeance. Ackermann played for the Sharks, Lions, and even became the oldest Springbok in 2007 at age 37.

Few players have had as turbulent a career as Chiliboy Ralepelle. First banned in 2010 for methylhexanamine, the South African union later took responsibility, and charges were dropped.

However, a second failed test in 2014 while at Toulouse – this time for drostanolone – led to a two-year suspension. He was released by the French club.

His attempted comeback with the Sharks was short-lived. In 2019, Ralepelle tested positive again – this time for the growth hormone Zeranol. A career-ending eight-year ban followed.

Capping off the list is former Wales and Lions scrum-half Rhys Webb, who received a four-year ban in 2024 after testing positive for growth hormone use.

The ex-Ospreys and Toulon man had recently returned to Welsh rugby with high hopes of reigniting his international career. Instead, the failed test brought everything crashing down – leaving many stunned by the fall of such a high-profile figure.