A RUGBY league star was being quizzed by the game's governing body after testing positive for an asthma drug.

Salford Reds' Ian Sibbitt has been asthmatic since childhood and uses inhalers.

The 28-year-old second row forward was appearing before a panel following a random drug test at a match against Widnes last June.

It is understood Mr Sibbitt was being accompanied by club chairman John Wilkinson who will be giving a character reference.

The drug Salbutamol is used in the prevention and treatment of common asthma and exercise-induced asthma.

It is commonly prescribed in blue inhalers such as Ventolin or Salamol. Salbutamol is prohibited in sport because of its potential use as a stimulant and as an anabolic agent at very high doses, which could enhance performance.

But to enable those who have asthma to participate in sport, and those who need the drug to compete, it is allowed under strict conditions.

It is permitted by inhaler only to prevent or treat exercise-induced asthma.

Part of Mr Sibbitt's defence will be that there was a high pollen count on the day of the test and that it was an innocent mistake after he overused his inhaler.

Mr Sibbitt will have to demonstrate that the presence of the drug was for medicinal or therapeutic reasons.

A spokesman for the RFL, the sport's governing body, said: "Under World Anti-Doping Agency guidelines we can't confirm or deny anything until two weeks after the hearing."

A spokeswoman for the Reds said the club did not wish to comment. The player was two days late joining the club's trip to Jacksonville, Florida, last month. It is believed he was having tests in London in a bid to clear his name.

Despite the investigation Mr Sibbitt has been allowed to continue playing while the inquiry is ongoing. He was in the Salford team that played during a friendly at Hull on Friday night. Gaelic footballer Aidan O'Mahony, who plays for Kerry, was also due to face an anti-doping tribunal after testing positive for the presence of salbutamol.

But last month he escaped any suspension when the Gaelic Athletics Association's anti-doping committee ruled that the levels of salbutamol were `consistent with inhalation of the substance' for therapeutic use.

But Italian cyclist Alessandro Petacchi tested positive for salbutamol during the 2007 Giro d'Italia. Despite having a `therapeutic use exemption' certificate, the level discovered was 320mg/ml above the 1000 mg/ml limit allowed and he was suspended for a year.