Former Bath trio Michael Lipman, Alex Crockett and Andrew Higgins were suspended for nine months after being found guilty of misconduct in failing to submit to two drugs tests, the Rugby Football Union confirmed on Monday.

The punishments were handed down by the RFU disciplinary panel, chaired by Judge Jeff Blackett.

The three players - all of whom played over 100 games each for Bath - were accused of conduct prejudicial to the interests of the game on a number of charges, including "taking prohibited substances and wilful refusal to take a drugs test".

It is understood the charges of taking drugs were dropped at the outset of the four-day hearing.

The hearing began last Wednesday and Lipman, Crockett - who were both co-captains of the club last season - and Higgins had vowed to "vigorously contest" the RFU allegations.

Lipman, 29 and an England international, 27-year-old Crockett and Higgins, also 27, terminated their Bath contracts after being accused by the club of failing to take a drugs test on three occasions following an end-of-season celebration in London on May 10.

The players quit immediately before they were due to appear before an internal disciplinary hearing, claiming their positions at the club "had become untenable".

The trio - who are all still without a club with the season starting on September 4 - also said Bath's investigation had been misled by an anonymous source making "scurrilous and unsubstantiated" claims.

A fourth ex-Bath player, Australian Justin Harrison, was banned for eight months earlier last month after admitting three similar drug-related charges, including taking cocaine, in a separate RFU hearing.

Earlier this year another Bath player highly-rated England prop Matt Stevens received a two-ear ban for returning a positive test for cocaine.

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP