England prop Stevens suspended for doping

England and Bath prop Matt Stevens faces up to two years out of rugby after he was suspended for doping on Tuesday.

After he was suspended by his country and club, Stevens admitted to having a drug problem.

Stevens said he tested positive to a recreational drug he would not reveal, following Bath's match against Glasgow Warriors in the European Cup last month.

A hearing date was yet to be set, but a two-year ban was the maximum penalty for a first-time doping offense.

"I was tested for a prohibited substance but it's not performance-enhancing, so you can take what you want from that," he told Sky Sports News. "It is a very serious substance and something over a period of time I have realized I have an issue with, something I think has basically ruined my life up until this point.

"It is pretty distressing talking about this. When you think how much time and effort so many people have put in to my career. I have thrown it away with irresponsible behavior."

The English Rugby Football Union dropped Stevens from the national squad traveling to a training camp in Portugal on Sunday, preparing for the Six Nations starting in three weeks.

The 26-year-old South African-born Stevens has played 32 tests for England since his debut in 2004 in New Zealand.

BATH, England, AP