19 Mar 2015

Kennedy faces ban from NRL

12:23 pm on 19 March 2015

The Sydney Roosters prop Martin Kennedy faces a two-year ban from rugby league after being issued with an infraction notice by the NRL, as part of ASADA's investigation into the code.

The NRL's released a statement stating that Kennedy was issued "with a Notice of Alleged Anti-Doping Rule Violations under the NRL's Leagues Anti-Doping Policy".

Martin Kennedy playing for Brisbane in 2014.

Martin Kennedy playing for Brisbane in 2014. Photo: PHOTOSPORT

The ASADA investigation is understood to have been into Kennedy's activities during his first stint at the Roosters in 2013, and followed a similar line of enquiries to those centred on former NRL winger Sandor Earl.

Kennedy left the Tricolours for Brisbane last year before returning to the Roosters ahead of this NRL season.

"The notice alleges that Mr Kennedy breached the policy through the possession and attempted use of banned substances," the NRL statement read.

"The NRL will not be making further comment until Mr Kennedy has had the opportunity to respond to the NRL."

Kennedy's notice relates to the alleged use of performance enhancing drugs, which earns a two-year ban under the WADA code.

Kennedy returned to the Roosters, where the 26-year-old made his NRL debut in 2009, after an unhappy one-year stint with the Broncos.

The Broncos boss Paul White said the club's decision to release Kennedy was football related.

"It had nothing to do with the story that appeared in the paper today," White says. "We've obviously restructured our entire roster and Martin was one of those players that moved onto another club as part of that restructure."

"Martin's no longer at our club so we've got no cause to make any further comment on it."

Kennedy didn't play for the Roosters in their opening two NRL matches this season but was included by coach Trent Robinson on an extended six-man bench for games against North Queensland and South Sydney.

The Roosters are yet to comment on Kennedy's infraction notice.

Earl is still fighting a potential four-year ban for alleged trafficking of banned substances, while 11 past and present Cronulla players were handed backdated 12-month bans in August.