UK Anti-Doping have banned Kurt Clabby for four years ©UKAD

A rugby player from Wales has been handed a four-year suspension from all sport by UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) after failing to report to an out-of-competition test.

Kurt Clabby, who was registered with both Bedwas and Nelson Rugby Clubs, did not attend the scheduled test on December 1 in 2015, and was charged with violating Article 2.3 of the World Anti-Doping Code – evading, refusing or failing to submit to sample collection.

The 29-year-old full-back requested a tribunal and said the reason why he did not provide a sample at Bedwas’ ground was because he was required to attend an emergency call-out for Dwr Cymru Welsh Water, a company he claimed in his evidence provided to be working for at the time.

However, the judges on the independent National Anti-Doping Panel upheld the decision as Clabby had been made aware that he needed to provide a sample 15 minutes before he left.

He is the 15th Welsh player to be banned for a doping-related offence. 

"Kurt Clabby’s decision to evade sample collection is not just a serious breach of the rules, but it also goes against the spirit of sport and his responsibility as a sportsperson," said UKAD chief executive Nicole Sapstead.

"We treat violations such as this with the utmost seriousness and we will always seek to impose the maximum possible sanction on any individual who decides to consciously cheat the system."

Nicole Sapstead, chief executive of UK Anti-Doping, called Kurt Clabby's case a
Nicole Sapstead, chief executive of UK Anti-Doping, called Kurt Clabby's case a "serious breach of the rules" ©Getty Images

Clabby’s ban will run from January 28 last year until January 27 in 2020.

During the hearing, it was told Bedwas’ head coach Steve Law approached Clabby at 7.15pm during a training session to confirm he had to provide a sample.

When Law and testers went to locate the player 15 minutes later, shortly after training finished, he could not be found.

The coach attempted to contact Clabby by phone, but was unable to reach him.

On January 29 last year the player was charged by UKAD.

Following the verdict's publication, Dwr Cymru Welsh Water have said Clabby was not an employee of the company at the time of the offence and have raised this point with UKAD.

A spokesperson: “Mr Clabby has never worked directly for Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water."

Bedwas play in the Principality Premiership, the top league run by the Welsh Rugby Union, and Nelson are part of the Welsh Division One East league.