North Queensland prop Mitchell Sargent has been sacked from the NRL club after returning a positive test for cocaine.

Sargeant took the recreational drug just hours after Saturday's 19-12 loss to Newcastle and failed the club's "A" test the next morning.

The Cowboys sacked the Country prop after he waived his right to a "B" test and admitted his guilt.

"Mitchell Sargent had a promising career with the Cowboys until today," chief executive Peter Parr said.

"The message to our players is clear - use drugs and you are out.

"Recreational drugs are illegal and dangerous and performance-enhancing drugs are used by cheats and frauds.

"There is no place for either at the Cowboys."

The 27-year-old is the first NRL player since Manly's Andrew Walker in 2004 to test positive for a recreational drug.

Sargeant's sacking is the latest drama to engulf the Cowboys, who earlier this year denied an alleged sex scandal at the club and will miss this year's playoffs after contesting last year's grand final.

"The Cowboys have taken a tough stance and it certainly sends a strong message about what their club stands for," said NRL chief executive David Gallop.

"He's automatically deregistered.

"If another club looked to sign him, we would need to look at the circumstances at the time.

"Because it's an out-of-competition test result it doesn't attract an automatic two-year ban."

In a further blow to the NRL, Sydney Roosters prop Adrian Morley claimed some players were taking performance-enhancing drugs.

"I do feel there are people in the sport who take drugs and the sooner we get them out the better," Morley told Channel Nine.

Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA) may have a fight on its hands when the various sports unions get together next week to discuss a potential legal challenge to its right to test sports stars at any time of the day.

"The players want a complete review of the timing of the testing procedures," former Rugby League Professionals' Association boss Tony Butterfield told AAP.

However, Bulldogs stars Mark O'Meley and Andrew Ryan have accepted anti-doping dawn raids as a necessary inconvenience to ensure the NRL remains drug free.

Their backing comes after it was revealed Penrith's Kiwi international Frank Pritchard was forced to undergo a drugs test by ASADA agents in his western Sydney home in the early hours of the morning.

While the surprise drug-testing tactic has angered the RLPA, the Bulldogs stars said they were prepared to abide by the procedures to keep the code clean.

"I think last year it was mentioned to us through the players' association ... they could turn up to your house at any time or get your number and ring you and turn up," O'Meley said.

"It's a little bit harsh, I suppose they could have waited till training.

"I suppose if the NRL wants a clean code, to abide by the ASADA and WADA guidelines, I suppose we have to accept it."

Ryan added: "It's probably not ideal, but it's part of their thing, they can come and get you at any time at any place."

ASADA CEO Richard Ings said league players were usually tested between 9am and 7.30pm, but could be targeted at any time or place.

"If there are windows of opportunity where athletes know they can be tested, then there are equally windows of opportunities where athletes may be able to use drugs with impunity," Ings told Sydney radio station 2KY.

"Athletes need to know there may be the odd inconvenience, but we need to do that from time to time to ensure there is pure performance in Australian sport."

In other news, Penrith halfback Craig Gower has been ruled out of Saturday's clash with Newcastle, while Melbourne is expected to offer dumped Brisbane forward Neville Costigan a contract in coming days.

"I was leaning towards Canberra but I'm confused at the moment because I like them both," Costigan said after meeting Storm officials on Thursday.

"I'll need a couple of days to figure out where I will play my best footy."

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