The player, who has not been named by the Football Association, refused to take a test between January and March this year. A report by the drug-testing body, UK Sport, stated: “The player has been interviewed by the FA and an investigation is on-going.”Four rugby union players and three rugby league professionals tested positive for banned substances in the first quarter of this year.Two of the rugby league players tested positive for steroids. One is Halifax’s Australian player, Dane Dorahy, who escaped with a reprimand for use of stanozol after a disciplinary panel accepted his explanation that he had retired and had been given the substance as part of his medical treatment in Australia before making a comeback.The other player, who tested positive for the anabolic steroid nandrolone, has been given a six-month ban but suspended for six months. The Rugby Football League has not released his name “on medical advice”.None of the four rugby union players represent Zurich Premiership sides. Three of the quartet tested positive for stimulants of the sort contained in cold cures; two are under investigation and the other, who has not been named, was suspended for 14 days in March.The fourth was the South African Andre Barnard, who refused to take a test while playing for Blackpool Fylde and was banned for two years.. Gerard Butler’s Elusive City, the Barry Hills-trained Makhlab and Saeed bin Suroor’s Bourbonnais were the only British-trained runners left in Sunday’s French 2000 Guineas (Poule d’Essai des Poulains) at Longchamp after the overnight defection of Sagitta 2000 Guineas third Norse Dancer.

Dermot Weld has left in Evolving Tactics, while Aidan O’Brien can choose from Alberto Giacometti, Dalcassian, Catcher In The Rye, Balestrini and France. They are Ed Dunlop’s Nasij, Mick Channon’s Londonnetdotcom, the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Crystal Star, John Gosden’s Pearl Dance and Godolphin’s Anyaas.The Longchamp card also features the Prix Lupin, a race which could feature Godolphin’s Graikos and New South Wales, Dunlop’s Battle Chant and Brendan Duke’s Skelligs Rock. O’Brien has left in Brian Boru, The Great Gatsby and Delacroix, along with Alberto Giacometti, Dalcassian, Balestrini and Catcher In The Rye.But precise running plans for the Ballydoyle horses this weekend have yet to be finalised, according to O’Brien.. Hugs Dancer is not a particularly appropriate name for him. There is little cuddly or nimble about James Given’s huge six-year-old, who possesses the more brutish qualities of endeavour and commitment. The gelding, last year’s Ebor winner, continued his chomp through the beacons in the programme book when he won the 168th Chester Cup here yesterday.Soon those that live in the nice house on the hill may be getting a visit from the ruffian, who, at the age of six, now appears to have outgrown handicap company.

The Yorkshire Cup next week is a possibility, the big daddy of them all, the Ascot Gold Cup, more certain. “And he won’t be embarrassed,” Dean McKeown, yesterday’s winning jockey, said “He’ll never be embarrassed in any race. He’s so honest and game.”These are traits in keeping with all Chester Cup winners. You need to be armour-plated for the tight stampede around the Roodeye, where collisions are not a potential hazard but a jarring inevitability.

Hugs Dancer’s most serious skirmish came on the clubhouse turn for the second time.The gelding was knocked back two places, but emerged an even more determined combatant. “He was squeezing into the gaps where only the brave horses go,” McKeown reported.It took until just inside the final furlong for Hugs Dancer to propel himself to the lead. Big Moment, the favourite, was flying, but the big horse was not for faltering. He held on by half a length as his pugnacious tendency kicked in. “At home he’s very laid back but when he gets to the racecourse he really grinds his teeth and becomes a much tougher horse,” James Given, the winning trainer, said. “He’s very professional.”Given now has another arrow in the quiver as he aims at the highest. “You want to come to the big meetings like this with such an atmosphere and win the big ones,” he said.