Spelman son gets rugby ban for taking steroids

Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman’s son Jonathan has been suspended from playing rugby for 21 months after admitting that he took banned substances, the sport’s ruling body in England confirmed yesterday.

The Rugby Football Union announced the 17-year-old is barred from taking part in any match or tournament until 19 October, 2013.

He admitted taking a number of drugs, including anabolic steroids and a growth hormone, when he appeared before an independent disciplinary tribunal on 26 March.

In February the Spelman family tried to suppress details about the case being published through a High Court injunction but later issued a statement saying Jonathan was “deeply sorry” for taking the substances.

Panel chairman Christopher Quinlan, QC, said: “In fixing the appropriate period of suspension, the tribunal had regard to all the relevant matters, including the player’s youth, immaturity and admissions. It therefore reduced by three months the otherwise applicable period of ineligibility of two years.”

An appeal has been lodged and will be heard at a later date.