British rugby player banned for drugs, offiicals banned for cover-up

LONDON (AP) -- A prominent British rugby player and two club officials received bans totaling seven years on Thursday for their part in a landmark doping case.

Martin Gleeson, a former captain of England's national rugby league team, tested positive for the banned stimulant methylhexaneamine after a club match in May and was originally given a two-year ban.

The 31-year-old Gleeson later admitted lying about the circumstances leading to his positive test, implicating the chief executive and conditioning coach of his Hull club at the time in a cover-up.

Gleeson received a three-year ban, half of which was suspended. The two officials were given two-year bans.

Gleeson has played in the Super League - teams from England, Wales and France - for the past decade. He last captained England in 2008.

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