Controversial former Penrith and Sydney Roosters NRL forward Ned Catic has been handed a four-match ban by English rugby league for verbally abusing a doping control officer.

The 32-year-old Barrow player was found guilty by the Rugby Football League's disciplinary committee of a breach of the game's operational rules and the RFL's Respect Policy following an incident on February 22.

Catic, a two-time grand finalist with the Roosters, was also fined, and has indicated his intention to appeal against the severity of the sentence. However, it is not the first time he has been in trouble with the league.

In 2008, while at Castleford, he was banned for confronting the referee when sent off for using foul and abusive language in the last match of the Super League season against Bradford.

And Catic missed Barrow's 2009 lower grade Northern Rail Cup final against Widnes after being banned for two matches as a result of his dismissal for using foul and abusive language towards a referee during a defeat at Batley.

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