Former England and Lions international Jeremy Guscott is now a TV analyst for the BBC © Getty Images

Enlarge

Related Links

News: Stevens set to be hit with two-year ban

News: Cuthbert and Catt pen new deals with Bath

News: Dallaglio offers support to Stevens

News: Howley warns of pitfalls of fame

News: Bath "let down" by Stevens

Features: Does Stevens deserve a lengthy ban?

News: White called into England squad

News: Stevens fails doping test

Players/Officials: Jerry Guscott | Matt Stevens

Tournaments/Tours: Guinness Premiership

Teams: Bath Rugby | England

Former England and Lions international Jeremy Guscott does not believe that rugby has a widespread drug problem depsite international prop Matt Stevens' positive test last month.

The 26-year-old faces a potential two-year ban after testing positive for a recreational substance following Bath's Heineken Cup victory over Glasgow on December 7 but Guscott believes it is an isolated case.

"On the evidence of what I've seen in professional rugby, you've got to be faster, you've got to be fitter, you've got to be stronger - if anything, I'd have thought there might have been a possibility of performance-enhancing drugs appearing," Guscott told BBC Radio Five Live.

"But these guys in general are very true and honest to themselves. It takes a lot of hard work to get into the position of representing your country or professional club side. It is pretty astounding. Throughout my career there were very little drugs. You know you're going to get drug tested.

"He's been caught, which, in the long run, will be to his benefit. It's the best for him as an individual, his life, and the people involved in his life because events (would have) only got worse from here on in (had he continued taking drugs)."

Stevens decided to reveal the news himself in an emotional televised interview last night.

"I was tested for a prohibited substance. It is not a performance-enhancing substance," Stevens told Sky Sports News. "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.

"It is pretty distressing talking about this. When you think how much time and effort so many people have put in to my career. I have thrown it away with irresponsible behaviour."

He has been suspended from all competition and removed from England's elite squad, pending a resolution to the case.

Stevens, who was born in South Africa before moving to Bath as a student in 2002, has won 32 England caps since making his international debut against the All Blacks in 2004 and was also a member of the 2005 British Lions squad.

Having been informed of the failed test, Stevens now has three options - request for his B-sample to be tested, ask for a judicial committee to rule whether there has been an anti-doping violation or accept an anti-doping violation has occurred and go before an independent judicial hearing. It is understood that decision has not yet been taken.

Under the International Rugby Board's doping regulations, the maximum ban for a first violation is two years. However, if a player can successfully establish the use of such a specified substance was not intended to enhance sport performance, the sanction would range between a warning and a one-year ban.