Bath prop Matt Stevens has spoken about his addiction after being suspended for failing a drugs test.
The 26-year-old England man has now been removed from the Six Nations squad, despite the drugs found in his system not being performance-enhancing.
Although Stevens did not openly admit what exact drugs he had taken, he made an emotional statement to Sky Sports yesterday.
“I was tested for a prohibited substance. It is not a performance-enhancing substance. It is a very serious substance and something over a period of time I have realised I have an issue with, something I think has basically ruined my life up until this point.”
“I want to say I truly am very sorry. I want to change my life and hopefully one day get the faith back that people had in me.”
Stevens now faces the possibility of being banned from professional rugby for up to two years if given the maximum sentence.