Sam Chalmers, the son of former Scotland and British Lions fly-half Craig, has been banned from rugby for two years for doping offences.
The 19-year-old student, who plays for Scottish club Melrose, apologised after being handed the ban at an International Rugby Board hearing during which he admitted using a pill called Pro-SD in an attempt to put on weight.
Chalmers tested positive for methandienone and stanozolol, which are both listed as anabolic androgenic steroids in the list of prohibited substances by the World Anti-Doping Agency, while on duty with the Scotland Under-20s ahead of a Test with Ireland in May.
The match was a warm-up for the Junior World Cup in France and Chalmers did not play in the tournament. He has also not featured in any of Melrose’s three Scottish Premiership fixtures so far this season.
“On his own account he took Pro-SD thinking it was a ‘testosterone pill’ in the hope it would help him gain weight,” the IRB committee said.
“He carried out no research or advice and accepted the risks in doing so. He was entirely at fault and he accepts the consequences.”
Chalmers admitted that his actions were “stupid, naive and impressionable” in a statement issued to the media.
“First of all I would like to apologise to my club Melrose RFC, my team-mates, the Scottish Rugby Union, my friends and my family,” he said.
“I am disappointed in myself and have to take personal responsibility for this incident, which has ultimately led me to being banned from the game I have grown up with and love so much.
“I have been stupid, naive and impressionable and would urge other young players not to give in to the constant pressure to be bigger in the manner that I did over a two-week period in April last season.
“I would certainly encourage young players to seek out the correct advice from the right places before taking any kind of supplement or product.
"I hope over time that I can be forgiven for my mistake and that I can come back to compete in the game I love so much.”
Graham Ireland, Scottish Rugby’s head of regulation, said: “Scottish Rugby takes a very clear stance on anti-doping and we have a zero-tolerance policy on doping offences in Scotland.
“We are committed to keeping the game in Scotland clean through a programme of robust drug testing coupled with education on the dangers of illegal substances.
“Since the 2009-2010 season there have been around 800 drugs tests in Scottish Rugby, at all levels of the game, and, in that period, there have now been two adverse findings – an amateur club player in 2010 who was found to have taken a slimming product that contained an illegal substance and, this latest case, involving a club player who took a product because he naively thought it could help him to put on weight.”
Chalmers’s father played 60 times for Scotland and once for the Lions between 1989 and 1999.
He has since moved into coaching and recently joined National One club Esher as backs coach after a successful stint at Melrose, his hometown club.
He said: "Sam has made a huge mistake, but anyone that knows him will tell you what a pleasant, polite young man he is.
"I must point out that Sam's family in no way condone what he has done, but we will be there to support and help him through this difficult time.
"Sam is a competitive, ambitious and hard-working young man who now faces the biggest challenge of his life.
"I believe the lessons Sam has learned from this experience will only make him stronger and when he does return to rugby you will see a player who has matured.
"My message to young players would be not to take any short cuts.
"These products may not only damage your career, but they can also damage your health.
"Get the right advice from the right people before you take any product or supplement."