Wiltshire rugby star Alex Crockett resigns from Bath over drug test (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Wiltshire rugby star Alex Crockett resigns from Bath over drug test

6:13pm Monday 1st June 2009

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Yatton Keynell rugby star Alex Crockett has resigned from Bath Rugby with immediate effect, along with two other players.

England flanker Michael Lipman, who was joint club captain along with the former Chippenham player, and Andrew Higgins are the others to have joined the 27-year-old in leaving the historic club.

"Michael Lipman, Alex Crockett and Andrew Higgins had been required to appear at an internal disciplinary hearing today to address the failure on three occasions to take a drugs test following allegations surrounding player conduct on Sunday 10 May," said the Bath chief executive Bob Calleja in a statement.

"Immediately before the hearings were due to take place the players resigned from the Club with immediate effect."

The three players issued a joint statement through their solicitor Richard Mallett, and said they had been forced out of the club.

"It is with tremendous regret that we announce that, as a result of the club's actions, we have no option but to terminate our contracts with Bath Rugby with immediate effect," read the statement.

"During the course of the last few weeks it has become clear to us that our position within the club has been made untenable.

"We have made every effort to work with the club to resolve our differences. Sadly, we have been unable to do so.

"It has been suggested in sections of the media that we have refused to provide samples for anti-doping purposes, but this is untrue.

"Anonymous sources have also made allegations against us to the club. We completely refute these allegations, which are both false and defamatory.

"We believe that these scurrilous and unsubstantiated allegations are not only proving to be damaging to our own careers but to rugby as a whole.

"We have all been immensely proud to have represented Bath Rugby and we are extremely grateful for all the support which we have enjoyed from the players and the club's amazing and loyal fans.

"Whilst we are extremely disappointed to have to leave the club in these circumstances we wish the players and the fans every success in the future."

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