A RUGBY star has been suspended after failing a drugs test.

York City Knights winger Alex Godfrey tested positive for an element of a banned substance - Benzoylecgonine.

The Rugby Football League confirmed that a two-year ban had been imposed by the RFL's Advisory Panel for a breach of its doping control regulations.

However, Godfrey, the club's leading try-scorer this season, has appealed against the ruling, with a hearing pencilled in for a date next month.

Godfrey, who has not played since May 23, initially due to injury and illness and last week because of the ban, will be suspended from action in the meantime.

York-born Godfrey, 25, started his career with York Wasps, starring in the 1998 side who were runners-up in the old second division, before moving on to have successful spells with Dewsbury Rams and Hull Kingston Rovers.

He returned to Huntington Stadium with the Knights at the start of last season, scoring the new club's first-ever try, against Hull KR.

The player has been advised by his lawyer to make no comment.