Maitua stood down

Cronulla forward Reni Maitua is facing a possible two year ban for testing positive for a banned substance.

The 26-year-old former Canterbury Bulldogs player has been stood down by the NRL after testing positive for Clenbuterol three weeks ago.

Maitua will wait on the results of a ‘B’ sample which is expected to be returned in around a week.

Cronulla Chief Executive Tony Zappia said the news was “disappointing”.

He told AAP: “Obviously, it’s disappointing for Reni … the club, the supporters, the players, corporate sponsors and all those people who are at home who support the Sharks.”

The incident follows revelations of a group sex scandal in 2002 on television but Zappia says that sponsors will stand by the troubled club.

Zappia added: “I think we’ve got some very good sponsors, and I think that sponsors will see this in a separate way to past events and I think they will remain solid.”