Sport Integrity Australia acknowledges the decision of UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) and Rugby Football League (RFL) to impose a three-month period of Ineligibility on Australian athlete Thomas Deakin, for the Presence of Prohibited Substance and its metabolite, namely Cocaine and its metabolite Benzoylecgonine.
Mr Deakin, an Australian athlete who was competing for the Huddersfield Giants in England, United Kingdom, returned an Adverse Analytical Finding (AAF) from an In-Competition doping control test on 13 April 2025.
Mr Deakin’s sample was analysed by the Drug Control Centre, King’s College London, a World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) accredited laboratory in London, and the presence of Cocaine and its metabolite Benzoylecgonine were detected.
The substance Cocaine is listed under Class S6.A (Non-Specified Stimulants) under the World Anti-Doping Code – International Standard – Prohibited List – 2025 (2025 Prohibited List) and is a Non-Specified Substance prohibited In-Competition only. Cocaine is also classified as a ‘Substance of Abuse’ under the 2025 Prohibited List.
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In accordance with Article 10.2.4. of the UK Anti-Doping Rules (ADR) if the Athlete can establish that any ingestion or Use of the substance occurred Out-of-Competition and was unrelated to sport performance, then the period of Ineligibility shall be three (3) months.
Mr Deakin opted not to complete a Substance of Abuse treatment programme and was therefore not eligible for any further reductions to his Period of Ineligibility.
As such, UKAD imposed a three-month period of Ineligibility on Mr Deakin which commenced on 16 May 2025.
Mr Deakin was ineligible to participate in any sports that have adopted a World Anti-Doping Code compliant anti-doping policy between 16 May 2025 and 11:59pm on 15 August 2025.
He was also not permitted to compete in a non-Signatory professional league or Event organised by a non-Signatory International Event organisation or a non-Signatory national-level event organisation.
Additional information on the Prohibited Substance
Classified by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) as an ‘S6 Stimulants’ class of illicit drug, cocaine is an illegal substance listed on the Prohibited Substances and Methods list under the Substances of Abuse category, as a drug which is prohibited for use ‘In-Competition’.
Stimulants are a class of drug that accelerate the function of the central nervous system. They stimulate the sympathetic nervous system which causes an increase in body temperature, heart rate, blood pressure and affects respiratory rate.
They also suppress sensations of hunger, thirst and fatigue which when combined with sharp rises in body temperature result in an increased risk of dehydration, complete exhaustion and death.
Further information on Cocaine and Sport can be located on the SIA Website here: Cocaine Use in Sport | Sport Integrity Australia.