England rugby league international Zak Hardaker is to face no action over allegations he made a homophobic comment in a recent Super League match, the Rugby Football League has announced.
The 22-year-old Hardaker, banned for five matches in June after being found guilty of homophobic abuse of a referee, was under investigation over claims he made similar comments aimed towards St Helens forward Mark Flanagan last month.
However, an RFL statement on Tuesday said: "The RFL can confirm that no further action will be taken following an investigation into an incident in the First Utility Super League fixture, Leeds Rhinos v St Helens played on Friday August 29.
"Details of the investigation were presented to the RFL Match Review Panel which concluded that there was insufficient evidence for charges to be brought."
The RFL's announcement came just 24 hours after Leeds fullback Hardaker had accused the governing body of needless delay in its handling of his case, saying the uncertainty was damaging his family.
Hardaker, speaking on Monday, said: "I would rather they just come out and say 'come to Red Hall (the RFL's headquarters in Leeds), we've got this, this and this', and try and charge me or say they haven't got enough evidence because it's hanging over me, it's hanging over the club and, most importantly, it's hanging over my family which pisses me off more than anything."
Had Hardaker been charged and found guilty of a repeat offence, he could have been given an eight-match ban, which would have ruled him out of both Leeds's bid to reach the grand final and England's end-of-season Four Nations campaign.
However, he is now free to play for Leeds in Saturday's elimination playoff tie at home to Catalan Dragons and push for a place in England's squad for the end-of-season tour of Australia and New Zealand.
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