A FORMER Warrington Wolves youngster has been handed a lengthy ban after testing positive for a banned substance.
As part of the terms of his suspension, however, winger Josh Lynch will be able to return to playing rugby league this summer after it was deemed he had not acted intentionally.
Lynch came through the Wire academy to make his senior debut against Huddersfield Giants in August 2022, scoring a try in a 38-36 defeat.
That proved to be his only senior appearance for Warrington as he spent the 2023 campaign on loan at North Wales Crusaders, scoring six tries in 18 matches.
However, having been tested by UK Anti-Doping after a pre-season training session with The Wire during December 2023, his sample returned an adverse analytical finding for ibutamoren – a growth hormone that is prohibited in sport.
After a charge was issued and mitigation on Lynch’s behalf was considered, the Welsh outside-back has been handed a 16-month ban from all sporting activity backdated from February 2, 2024 – the date upon which Lynch received his charge notice and was provisionally suspended.
As such, he will be eligible to compete again from June 2 of this year.
In a statement released by UKAD, they say it was determined Lynch’s explanation that he ingested ibutamoren accidentally having made a protein shake with a contaminated blender that had been used by a friend to make a shake containing the banned substance was plausible.
As a result, they were able to conclude that he did not act with intent.
“UKAD instructed an independent scientific expert to provide an opinion on the pharmacokinetic plausibility of Mr Lynch’s account,” the UKAD statement read.
“The expert concluded that Mr Lynch’s explanation was plausible and, later, further indicated that, had Mr Lynch been a regular user of ibutamoren, he would have expected such use to be apparent by way of an AAF in the Sample provided by Mr Lynch on 22 January.
“UKAD referred the matter to the independent National Anti-Doping Panel (NADP) and a Panel was convened to hear it on 10 December 2024. Mr Lynch and his friend provided oral evidence and were cross examined by UKAD.
“In a decision issued on 16 January 2025, the NADP accepted the account put forward by Mr Lynch and concluded that Mr Lynch had established the source of ibutamoren and had not acted with intent, as defined by the Anti-Doping Rules.
“Assessing Mr Lynch’s fault in committing the ADRVs (anti-doping rule violations), the NADP imposed a sixteen-month period of Ineligibility.
“Accounting for the period of time Mr Lynch spent provisionally suspended, his period of Ineligibility is deemed to have commenced on 2 February 2024 and will expire at 11:59pm on 1 June 2025.”
