Ryan Hudson has been sacked by the Bulls following his two-year ban for taking the anabolic steroid stanozolol.

Hudson, who was handed the maximum ban for a first offence by a Rugby Football League tribunal on Thursday night, would have been sacked regardless of the length of his suspension, said Bulls chairman Chris Caisley.

The 25-year-old former Yorkshire captain was suspended without pay on January 20 and has now been dismissed without having appeared for the club.

"As far as Ryan Hudson was concerned, as soon as we became aware of his positive test it was inevitable we would terminate his contract, irrespective of the length of the ban," said Caisley.

"We have always maintained a very strong line on the issue of performance-enhancing drugs and we will continue to do so, perhaps unlike some other clubs in the past.

"We have done the right thing both legally and morally. We have sent a message out that performance-enhancing drugs are not tolerated.

"It is very sad for the player that he has spoilt what was a burgeoning career. His form had been very promising before he signed for us.

"As far as we are concerned, this affair has impacted quite badly on us, but life goes on."

Hudson will appeal against the length of his ban. His Leeds-based solicitors Cramer Richards believes the league have demonstrated inconsistency in handing out a two-year suspension, which is double the punishment imposed on London Broncos winger Dom Peters in 2003 when he tested positive for the same drug.

Caisley, meanwhile, confirmed the Bulls were still in the market for at least one player to replace Hudson but also reaffirmed his belief that the existing squad was good enough to do well this season.

While Hudson's ban was expected and accepted by Bradford, Caisley was amazed London Broncos forward Danny Williams had been cleared by the same panel of failing to take a drugs test.

Caisley fears that the panel's ruling - that Williams was not guilty as he had not been a contracted London player at the time he was approached by testers - has opened up a loophole that will allow players to avoid out-of-season testing.

The three-month ban handed to Irish international Ged Corcoran for testing positive for ephedrine also highlighted the inconsistency with which players were treated, he said.

Leeds Rhinos pair Keith Senior and Ryan Bailey both escaped bans for the same offence after admitting prior to testing that they may have taken the substance.

"Are they the RFL saying that it is okay to take ephedrine for the first time as long as you say that you may have taken it in a cough medicine? We are still seeing differences in the way players are dealt with. That lack of consistency is what raises suspicion."

The RFL, meanwhile, are to increase the number of drug tests by more than a third over the next year in the wake of the recent spate of drugs investigations.

They have authorised the extension of their drug-testing programme from 300 to 400 tests each year.