The NRL has confirmed that past and present Catalans duo Ben Pomeroy and Paul Aiton have been sanctioned for a breach of anti-doping rules.
Five Cronulla players, including Aiton and Pomeroy, were handed 12-month bans for the breach during the 2011 season, but the NRL revealed that the suspensions were backdated for between six and nine months due to the length of the investigation.
They say that each suspension has now expired – saying that the players “bore no significant fault in the breaches”.
The sanctions are the last to be imposed arising from an investigation by the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority into breaches of the anti-doping rules during the 2011 season, which saw a total of 17 players sanctioned.
Sharks captain Paul Gallen and Wade Graham were among 10 players to accept reduced bans in 2014 amounting to three matches, with the club this year recovering to win its maiden premiership.
Aiton, who began his Super League career with Wakefield, left Leeds at the end of last season to sign a three-year contract with the Dragons.
