YORK City Knights are on the verge of signing a top-class forward from a higher division, the Evening Press can reveal.

The club are hoping the new player will be on board in time for Sunday's crucial National League Two visit of Swinton Lions.

Knights chief executive Steve Ferres confirmed: "I'm 90 per cent certain another signing will be made before the end of the week. He's a forward who currently plays in National League One."

Meanwhile, London Broncos winger Dominic Peters - who played against the Knights earlier this month - is waiting to hear what action his club will take after he was suspended for a year by the Rugby Football League following a positive drugs test.

Peters, who helped London Skolars earn a 16-16 draw at Huntington Stadium while on loan at the Skolars, was found guilty of providing a urine sample containing the anabolic steroid stanozolol. No details about when the incident occurred were given.

The Broncos would not make any official comment but maintained they 'appreciated and acknowledged the seriousness' of the punishment.

Peters was the Broncos' first 'home-grown' talent to play in Super League, debuting five years ago in the second row - the position in which he played against York - before switching to the wing. He faded from the first-team in 2001 and only scored one try in 16 appearances last season.

The RFL's doping control panel also suspended Halifax's Martin Moana for 28 days after he provided a urine sample containing ephedrine, another banned substance.

A third, unnamed, player was charged with providing a sample containing a banned substance and the panel, after taking into consideration mitigating evidence, meted out a 12-month suspended sentence and £2,500 fine.

Updated: 11:37 Wednesday, May 28, 2003