YORK City Knights coach Mick Cook has welcomed the increase in the number of drugs tests conducted by Rugby Football League bosses.

The RFL, which already has one of the most rigorous doping control regimes in British sport, is to up the number of tests on individual players by a third over the next year - from 300 to 400 each year - in a bid to protect its image as a clean sport in the wake of Super League star Ryan Hudson's two-year ban for testing positive for the banned steroid stanozolol.

And Cook reckons the new measure, which takes immediate effect, is a good thing.

"If people have got nothing to hide it should not be an issue," he said.

"If increasing the number of tests can eradicate the misuse of drugs in the sport then I would go along with it.

"The game has been tarnished with some cases, but we want it to be fair and they can check the players every week as far as I'm concerned."

The RFL, as part of its anti-drugs stance, has also tried to improve players' knowledge of doping issues with an education scheme, and Cook said the Knights were looking at running their own supplementary programme for their players.

"Education is an important thing," he said.

"There are sometimes hidden things in products. Players could think they are just having a sports drink but get caught out that way. Players should always read labels and if they're not sure then ask. You sometimes have to look into things in detail."

The Knights themselves have lost two players due to drug bans in the last 12 months. Alex Godfrey was slapped with a two-year suspension last June for benzoylecgonine, a diagnostic metabolite of cocaine - a charge he vehemently denied - while David Bates was given a three-month ban in January for providing a sample containing ephedrine after October's National League Two Grand Final, in which, ironically, he helped Halifax beat the Knights.

His former Fax team-mate, Ged Corcoran, was also banned for three months this week for providing a sample containing ephedrine after playing for Ireland in the European Nations Cup final in November.

"The testers can turn up at any session and choose any player," said Cook, adding that some of his players had been tested after a training session this year.

"We don't want any more players getting banned. The lads need to know what to look for. By all means take supplements but only within the legal boundaries."

TALKING of drugs, Knights winger Peter Fox got together with National League sponsors LHF Healthplan this week to encourage rugby league fans to kick the smoking habit.

LHF, who specialise in helping people tackle the costs of healthcare treatments, ran a 'Stamp It Out' campaign for national No Smoking Day, with Fox being joined at the launch by players from other National League clubs including Castleford Tigers, Batley Bulldogs, Dewsbury Rams and Halifax.

The drive was also part of LHF Healthplan's season long 'Fit for Rugby, Fit for Life' campaign, which hopes to highlight the health benefits of rugby league.

Fox backed the anti-smoking message by saying: "Smoking is one of the biggest health challenges at the minute and the Knights are delighted to be able to help LHF Healthplan encourage people to kick the habit."

Updated: 11:31 Saturday, March 12, 2005