Leigh forward Sam Barlow handed four-year ban for doping obstruction

Leigh forward Sam Barlow has been handed a four-year ban for obstructing a doping control officer, the Rugby Football League has announced.

The prop, who played for Scotland in the 2013 World Cup, is alleged to have disrupted the drug-testing procedure when a UK Anti-Doping official visited his home in July of last year.

Barlow was found guilty of "tampering or attempted tampering with any part of doping control" by an independent national anti-doping panel.

The 28-year-old contested the decision, but it was upheld on appeal.

"The outcome of this case sends a clear message that we will not tolerate obstructive or threatening behaviour towards any of our personnel," said UKAD chief executive Nicole Saptead.

"Whilst incidents such as this are rare, the obstruction of the doping control process in any way is, and will be, taken very seriously.

"Our role is to deter and detect those who cheat the system and protect everyone's right to clean and honest sport.

"We cannot do this on our own and we ask all athletes, support staff and even family members to work with us to support the testing process so we can continue to protect the very essence of sport - fair play."

Barlow, who has had spells at Halifax, Sheffield Eagles and Featherstone is banned from participating in all sport from 23 November 2015 to 22 November 2019.

Kingstone Press Championship side Leigh are closing in on a place in the Super League after winning four games out of four so far in the qualifiers.

With only three games to go, Leigh could seal their top-tier status against Huddersfield on Saturday, before they face Batley and Leeds in their final games of the season.