Scott MacLeod

For a player to beat a doping wrap once is unusual enough, but Scott MacLeod has now appeared to have managed it twice following a decision to lift the Scotland international's suspension for high levels of testosterone. An investigation by UK Sport found that the positive test had been caused by alcohol, and that, in short, MacLeod had been on the lash the day before he was asked to provide a sample.

"I never thought that an impromptu night out to celebrate the news that I was going to become a dad for the first time would lead to this," said the 29-year-old second row who is free to play for the Scarlets against Ulster in next Friday's Heineken Cup game at Ravenhill.

The Scottish Rugby Union has demanded an urgent review of testing and has questioned whether samples should be routinely analysed for alcohol, but there is also a possibility that WADA might appeal the decision. MacLeod was cleared in January following another positive test which he insisted had been caused by a change in his asthma medicine.