FORMER Leigh and England forward Owen Trout this year served a one-month suspension imposed by UK Anti-Doping, it has emerged.
The 27-year-old who has signed a two-year contract at Cronulla Sharks made 26 appearances for the Leopards as they reached the Super League play-offs.
But Trout did not feature in between appearances on May 16 and June 27, due to the ban.
A UKAD statement read: “On 20 March, 2026, UK Anti-Doping collected a urine sample from Mr Trout in-competition at the Betfred Super League match between Wakefield Trinity and his then team Leigh Leopards.
“Analysis of Mr Trout’s sample returned an adverse analytical finding for carboxy-THC, a metabolite of tetrahydrocannabinol, the psychoactive compound found in cannabis.
“THC is prohibited in-competition only and is listed as a cannabinoid at S8 of the 2026 World Anti-Doping Agency prohibited list.
“THC is also identified as a ‘substance of abuse’. Athletes who test positive for a substance of abuse may receive a reduced three-month ban, if they can prove that they ingested the substance out-of-competition and in a context unrelated to sport performance.
“This can be reduced further to a one-month ban if the athlete completes an approved substance of abuse treatment programme.
“UKAD notified Mr Trout of the adverse analytical finding and imposed a provisional suspension.
“Mr Trout admitted to consuming a cannabis gummy and smoking cannabis joints in the week leading up to the match on 20 March, 2026.
“Mr Trout stated that he had since ceased all use of cannabis and was commencing a substance of abuse treatment programme.
“An independent scientific expert concluded that Mr Trout’s ingestion of THC most likely took place out of competition (ie. before 11.59pm on 19 March 2026).
“On 20 July, 2026, UKAD formally charged Mr Trout with an ADRV (anti-doping rule violation) pursuant to ADR article 2.1 (presence of a prohibited substance or its metabolites or markers).
“Mr Trout admitted the charge and provided UKAD with satisfactory evidence of his completion of an approved substance of abuse treatment programme.
“Affording Mr Trout credit for the time spent provisionally suspended, Mr Trout’s one-month ban is deemed to have commenced on 22 May, 2026 (the date on which the provisional suspension was imposed) and expired on 21 June, 2026, leaving Mr Trout free to compete in sport again.”
Trout made his England debut in last year’s Ashes series against Australia.
