Toulon's Steffon Armitage has been cleared of doping having failed a drugs test earlier this year © Getty Images

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Toulon flanker Steffon Armitage has been cleared of doping charges by a French Rugby Federation disciplinary panel.

The former England international, who has starred in the Top 14 since swapping Premiership side London Irish for the south of France last year, tested positive for morphine, a prohibited substance, following last season's final defeat by Toulouse.

However, the 27-year-old has always stressed his innocence with his club insisting that the test result was the result of side effects from a treatment for back pain - a medication that has been approved by the French Anti-Doping Agency (AFLD).

Armitage, who was given clearance to continue playing while his case was investigated, attended a two-hour hearing at the FFR's anti-doping commission in Marcoussis last month but the openside has had to endure an anxious wait for the panel's decision.

The FFR have now contacted Toulon's lawyer to confirm Armitage has been cleared of any anti-doping violation and that he will not be suspended.