Former Great Britain and Ireland international Brian Carney has called for drug cheats to be banned from rugby league for life.

The 38-year-old, who now works as a pundit, made the comments in the wake of Featherstone Rovers forward James Lockwood's suspension for breaching new Rugby Football League anti-doping rules.

Lockwood was handed a two-year ban after testing positive for growth hormone GHRP-2 (Pralmorelin) during an out-of-competition test last November.

However, Carney wants to see heftier punishments passed down by UK Anti-Doping chiefs in order to send out a clear message.

"I just don't think two year bans are long enough - these players have no place in our game," he told Sky Sports News. "I wouldn't mind seeing a lifetime ban. You know now what happens; if you take drugs, you're going to get banned, but ban them for life."

Lockwood yesterday became the second Rovers player to have been banned for two years following Shaun Pick's expulsion in February.