SportwayNews

Former Wales scrum-half Rhys Webb has been banned for four years by the French Anti-Doping Agency (AFLD)

Rhys Webb was suspended shortly after joining the French second-tier team Biarritz last summer due to a positive test for human growth hormone (HGH) during a training session. Both his A and B samples confirmed the presence of HGH.

As a result, Webb has been banned from playing until 2027, which means he will be 38 years old by the time his suspension ends.

In response, Webb has shared a statement from his lawyer on social media, asserting his innocence and announcing plans to appeal the decision.

"The sanction imposed on Rhys Webb is not final, and we have immediately instructed a lawyer at the Conseil d’Etat to lodge an appeal to overturn the AFLD’s decision," the statement reads. "Rhys wishes to reaffirm his innocence, pointing out that he has never undergone any other disciplinary procedure, of any kind, during his long career as a professional athlete and has never used any doping product, growth hormone in particular."

The statement also highlights perceived "incompetencies" in the AFDL’s testing process.

Biarritz has been asked to provide a comment on the situation.