Former NRL star James Maloney's career in the balance after positive cocaine test

Former NRL star James Maloney's glittering career may have come to an abrupt end after he was stood down by French club Lezignan after he tested positive for cocaine. 

Maloney, who has been plying his trade in the French Elite One championship, tested positive for the banned recreational drug after a match against Carcassone in Feburary. 

The 35-year old has been suspended pending a decision from France's anti-doping agency. 

«It's up to him to provide some details,» Lezignan president Alain Fabre told AFP.

«We all know cocaine is a scourge throughout society. No-one is out of its reach.

»Unfortunately we can't be behind all the players to watch over what they're doing when they're not at the club."

Given Maloney's age, a lengthy suspension could bring the curtain down on his career. 

Maloney joined Lezignan this season after two seasons with Super League side Catalans Dragons.

He steered the Dragons to their first grand final appearance last season, where they went down to St Helens 12-10.

Prior to his time in France, Maloney was one of the NRL's top playmakers for close to a decade. 

After debuting for Melbourne in 2009, he helped lead the Warriors to the 2011 grand final before winning premierships with the Roosters in 2013 and the Sharks in 2016.

He ended his career with a stint at the Panthers, departing for France at the end of 2019. 

Maloney also appeared in 14 matches for New South Wales, winning the 2018 and 2019 series, and appeared in three Tests for Australia.