Brandon Staples has been suspended from all sport for four years after testing positive for three banned substances.

Staples, who plays for Yorkshire Carnegie in the English second-tier Championship, underwent a random drug test after a training session on 9 August 2017. His urine sample revealed the presence of three different types – Dehydrochloromethyl-Testosterone, Methandienone and Stanozolol – of steroids.

The ban was originally imposed in November 2017 but details were only made public on Wednesday after Staples failed to have his suspension overturned on appeal. The 20-year-old claims the adverse analytical finding came as a result of consuming a nutritional drink while on holiday in South Africa in May 2017.

Yorkshire Carnegie has since terminated Staples’ contract.

‘We are naturally very disappointed with the actions of Brandon Staples, who has let himself and everyone at the club down,’ said CEO Gary Hetherington. ‘The four-year suspension sends a stark warning to all professional sportspeople.’

Staples’ ban is backdated to the start of his provisional suspension seven months ago, meaning he’ll only be eligible to play professionally from 6 September 2021.