Rob Oakley: Scotland international handed three-year doping ban

A Scotland international rugby league player has been banned from sport for three years for doping.

Robert Oakley, 23, returned a urine sample containing four prohibited substances during an out-of-competition UK Anti-Doping (Ukad) test in June 2022.

The hooker, who can also play as a loose forward, made his international debut against Jamaica in 2021 but was not included in Nathan Graham’s World Cup squad in the autumn. He most recently represented the London Broncos in the Championship.

After being charged, Oakley admitted to taking what he believed to be ostarine, one of the four banned substances, during his recovery from a shoulder injury.

He will be free to play again on 5 September 2025.

Jane Rumble, UKAD Chief Executive, said: “Abusing prohibited substances to aid recovery from injury is a clear violation of the UK Anti-Doping Rules.

“Strict Liability means that the athlete is responsible for what goes in their body. There are serious and wide-ranging consequences for the athlete when they do not comply with the rules, and this will impact their career.”

The Rugby Football League (RFL) added: “We support UKAD in their determination to ensure that sport is clean, and therefore in their testing programme for recreational as well as performance-enhancing drugs.

“We continue to prioritise education of players at all levels, working with our charity partners RL Cares, regarding the harmful side-effects of drugs, as well as the potential impact of a positive test.”

Born in Colchester, Oakley made his London Broncos debut in 2021 after progressing through the club’s academy.