Super League side Wakefield on Monday cancelled the contract of Terry Newton with immediate effect following the former Great Britain hooker's admission he had used human growth hormone (HGH).

The move increases the likelihood that Newton's career is over with the 31-year-old also facing a two-year ban for doping.

A statement from Wakefield read: "Following a UK Anti-Doping investigation and Terry Newton's admission that he breached the RFL's Doping Control Regulations his contract with the Wakefield Trinity Wildcats has been cancelled with immediate effect.

"Wakefield Trinity Wildcats are fully supportive of the RFL's principles of a drug-free sport and the club works hard to inform its players through the "100 per cent ME" campaign about the dangers of drugs and consequences of taking drugs, or breaching the Anti-Doping Regulations."

HGH occurs naturally in the body but it can be injected in synthetic form in a bid to boost muscle growth and aid recovery from injury.

Although not proven to be performance-enhancing, use of HGH in sport was banned in 1989 by the International Olympic Committee's medical commission.

In a statement released week, Newton admitted a "grave error of judgment" in taking a banned substance and said he hoped that his "stupidity" would alert other players of the consequences of doping.

Newton, who won 15 caps for Great Britain, was the second high profile rugby league player to fail a drugs test in the last nine months.

Wigan and England forward Gareth Hock is currently serving a two-year ban after testing positive for cocaine.

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