Zak Hardaker banned after failing drugs test and OUT of England’s World Cup squad

ZAK HARDAKER is out of England’s World Cup squad and rugby league after testing positive for cocaine.

The Castleford star was dramatically dropped from their Grand Final squad for what was called a ‘breach of club rules’.

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Zak Hardaker has failed a drugs test[/caption]

Now as England boss Wayne Bennett prepares to name his World Cup squad, it has been revealed he has failed a drugs test.

Sources say it was cocaine and it flashed up in a sample after the Super 8s game, ironically against Grand Final opponents and his former club Leeds.

And he admitted he had let everyone at the club, which does have the power to rip up his contract, down on the eve of their biggest ever game.

Hardaker said: “I would like to apologise to my team-mates, the staff and all fans for my enormous error of judgment.

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Hardaker was axed from the Grand Final because of failed drugs test[/caption]

“I was given an opportunity by this great club and in what has been one of the most important weeks in its history, I have let everyone at the club down. For that, I truly apologise.

“Finally, I would like to make it clear that in no way did I, nor would I, ever take a substance with the intention of enhancing my performance.”

Hardaker was told on Thursday that he had failed the test, hours before the Tigers named their 19-man squad for the huge clash.

And he was provisionally suspended pending results of a B sample when written notification came through on Friday.

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Hardaker is also out of England’s World Cup squad[/caption]

It is also thought to have forced a last minute rethink by Bennett as Hardaker was thought to have been in his 24-man party, which is named today.

Now Hardaker, who only signed in a £150,000 move after starring on loan, faces a two-year ban as cocaine comes under stimulants under the World Anti-Doping Authority prohibited substances list.

A Rugby Football League Spokesman, said: “Zak Hardaker is provisionally suspended from all competition after it received notification from UK Anti-Doping that he had tested positive for a banned substance following a Super 8s game between Castleford Tigers and Leeds Rhinos on September 8.”

“He will therefore not be considered for the England Rugby League World Cup squad.”