The Sports Tribunal has suspended Northern Swords rugby league player Samuel Henry for seven months after he tested positive for cannabis.
Henry's suspension is backdated to November 10 after he returned a positive test following a competition game on October 6.
The length of the penalty may seem harsh butDrug Free Sport New Zealand's Director of Testing and Investigations Jude Ellis said the organisation's hands were tied.
"We know that cannabis is not generally performance-enhancing, but nonetheless it remains on the World Anti-Doping Agency's (WADA) Prohibited List under the sports anti-doping rules," said Ellis.
"If you are an athlete, the best way to avoid a positive test is not to use cannabis.
"Our internal research, external advice and wider consultation with the medical and sporting community in New Zealand is that there is no evidence that cannabis is performance-enhancing, and we have been consistent in our annual submissions to WADA asking for cannabis to be removed from the Prohibited List.
"However while it remains prohibited in sport, we are required under the current rules to proceed with a case where a positive test for cannabis is received."
