An update as confirmation
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/16354818.stmFormer Hull FC centre Martin Gleeson, chief executive James Rule and coach Ben Cooper have all been banned for anti-doping rule breaches.
Former Great Britain international Gleeson failed a drugs test in May and Rule and Cooper were "complicit in the lies" that followed the test.
Gleeson, 31, who left the club in September, has been banned for three years, with half of that suspended.
Rule is banned for two years and Cooper for two years, with one suspended.
At the time of Gleeson's test, Rule said that the player was on leave with a stress related illness.
He played his last game for the club against Harlequins on 12 June and scored his last try a week earlier in the 17-10 loss at cross-city neighbours Hull Kingston Rovers.
Gleeson left former club Wigan in March 2011 and planned to take a break from rugby only to join Hull weeks later
A statement from UK Anti-Doping read: "James Rule and Ben Cooper were charged with conspiring with Martin Gleeson to cover up the circumstances which led to Mr Gleeson testing positive for a banned stimulant.
"Mr Gleeson was charged by UK Anti-Doping in June 2011 with committing an anti-doping rule violation after he tested positive for the banned stimulant methylhexaneamine on 13 May 2011.
"He was banned for two years by the National Anti-Doping Panel (following a hearing on 9 June 2011), and later admitted lying to the National Anti-Doping Panel about the circumstances that led to him testing positive.
"Mr Cooper and Mr Rule were charged with being complicit in these lies, in violation of Rule 2.5 of the RFL's Anti-Doping Rules.
"Mr Gleeson agreed to a three-year ban being imposed by the National Anti-Doping Panel, with half that ban suspended in recognition of his providing assistance to UK Anti-Doping."
UK Anti-Doping chief executive Andy Parkinson said: "This case marks two firsts for the anti-doping community. It is the first time that tampering with the doping control process in this manner has resulted in a violation, and the first time that members of an athlete's entourage have been convicted of anti-doping rule violations in the UK."
RFL chief executive Nigel Wood added: "Such behaviour is unacceptable and this case has brought the sport of rugby league into disrepute. We must applaud UK Anti-Doping for the hours of work they have put in to conduct a detailed and extensive investigation."
Gleeson's ban expires on 12 November 2012, while conditioning coach Cooper can return on 8 June 2012 and Rule's ban lasts for another year.
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