Castleford Tigers appoint Ben Cooper as strength and conditioning coach

Ben Cooper will be a regular at the Probiz Coliseum next season after being appointed Castleford's strength and conditioning coach

Ben Cooper is back in rugby league after being appointed as Castleford's new strength and conditioning coach.

Cooper was suspended last December by UK Anti-Doping for his part in the Martin Gleeson drugs case at Hull.

The former Huddersfield player was given a two-year ban , half of which was suspended, for conspiring with Gleeson to cover the circumstances surround the former Great Britain international's positive test for the stimulant methylhexanaemine.

The suspension was back-dated to June 2011, the date of the original incident. Gleeson was given a three-year ban, half of which was suspended, and he too is now free to resume his career.

Cooper began his new job with Castleford on Wednesday as the players, including new Australian recruit Justin Carney, reported back for pre-season training.

Tigers coach Ian Millward said: "Having previously worked in the same role at Hull FC, Ben brings a wealth of experience with him that will no doubt have a positive impact on our pre-season preparations."

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