England international and former Penrith Panthers NRL player Zak Hardaker has been banned for failing a drugs test, the Rugby Football League has announced.
Castleford dropped the fullback for Saturday's Super League Grand Final against Leeds for what they called a breach of club rules.
But on Monday it was revealed that the club was made aware last Thursday that the 25-year-old would be receiving written notification from UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) that he had tested positive for a banned substance.
There have been no details on what that substance is but Castelford confirmed the test was conducted following a Super 8s match on September 8.
Hardaker has been immediately suspended, which means it seems certain he will not be playing for England in this month's World Cup. The England squad, coached by Wayne Bennett, was due to be named this week.
The opening match of the 14-nation tournament is between England and Australia at Melbourne's AAMI Park on October 27.
A RFL spokesperson said: "The Rugby Football League can confirm that Zak Hardaker is provisionally suspended from all competition."
Hardaker, who joined Penrith in June 2016 and played 11 games for the Panthers, including in the NRL finals that year, took to the Castleford website to express his remorse.
"I would like to apologise to my Castleford Tigers teammates, the staff and all fans for my enormous error of judgement," his statement said.
"I was given an opportunity by this great club and in what has been one of the most important weeks in its history, I have let everyone at the club down. For that, I truly apologise.
"Finally, I would like to make it clear that in no way did I, nor would I, ever take a substance with the intention of enhancing my performance."
A spokesperson for UKAD said the organisation was not in a position to make any comment.
But Hardaker could be facing a suspension of up to two years if found guilty of using an illegal substance, namely a recreational drug.
"If an NGB (national governing body) decides to make an announcement, it is their prerogative but we would never divulge or discuss any individual athlete's data or personal details," the UKAD spokesperson told the Press Association.
"Each individual has a right to privacy."
It is the latest episode in an eventful career for Hardaker, who was thrown out of England's squad during the last World Cup in 2013 for a breach of discipline.
He returned to the England team in 2015 and has played five Tests overall, scoring two tries.
Hardaker won the Super League's 'Man of Steel' award in 2015 - the first Leeds Rhinos player to take the prestigious honour since lestyn Harris in 1998.
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