The mystery surrounding Owen Trout’s month-long absence from Leigh Leopards last season has been resolved: the England forward served a ban after testing positive for cannabis, UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) has confirmed. The Owen Trout cannabis ban kept him out of action from May 16 to June 27, a period that puzzled supporters at the time.
Trout, 27, returned an adverse analytical finding following a test conducted after a match against Wakefield Trinity in late March. The Yorkshireman was provisionally suspended on May 22 and later admitted to smoking a joint and eating a cannabis gummy in the week leading up to that game.
How the case unfolded
The positive test came after Leigh’s encounter with Wakefield Trinity, the reigning Super League champions. Trout was formally charged on July 20, but the ban was backdated and deemed to have been served from May 22 to June 21. That timing explains why he was unavailable for selection for roughly six weeks of the campaign.
As part of the process, Trout completed an approved ‘substance of abuse’ treatment programme. He subsequently returned to the Leigh side and went on to make 26 appearances in what was his final season with the club.
Club support during the process
Leigh Leopards head coach Adrian Lam addressed Trout’s absence in June, before the full details emerged. Lam emphasised that the club’s priority was the player’s wellbeing and that they were supporting him through the process.
He noted that there was no fixed timeline for Trout’s return and that his situation was being assessed on a week-to-week basis. Lam also indicated that the club would keep further comment to a minimum while the matter was ongoing.
Trout’s return to the field allowed him to finish the season on a strong note, and his contribution was recognised with a move to the NRL. From the 2027 season onwards, he will join the Cronulla Sharks.
A career on the rise
Trout, who made his sole England appearance to date against Australia last year, has established himself as a forward of note in the Super League. His disciplinary episode now sits behind him, and the clarity provided by UKAD’s statement closes a chapter that had left fans speculating.
The case also highlights the procedures in place for substances of abuse, where treatment programmes and backdated bans are part of the regulatory framework. For Trout, the focus now shifts to his future with Cronulla, while Leigh will plan for life without a player who featured regularly in 2026.
