CASTLEFORD Tigers full-back, Zak Hardaker, has been provisionally suspended by the Rugby Football League after testing positive for cocaine on the 8th of September.
The 25 year old will not be included in England’s squad for the World Cup in Australia, new Zealand and Papua New Guinea which starts later this month.
Hardaker was also removed from the Tigers’ squad for the Grand Final, in which they lost 6-24 against Leads Rhinos on Saturday.
In a statement on the club website, Hardaker said: “I would like to apologise to my team-mates, the staff and all fans for my enormous error of judgment.
Club statement: Zak Hardaker https://t.co/FPI7VVHihF pic.twitter.com/PR0yDue8H2
— Castleford Tigers (@CTRLFC) October 9, 2017
“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.
“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.”
Full-back Hardaker was one of three nominees for the Super League’s man of steel award, after scoring 13 tries in 30 games.
It is the latest episode in an eventful career for Hardaker, who was thrown out of England’s squad during the last World Cup in 2013 for a breach of discipline.
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