Earl granted extension, will meet ASADA one more time Provided assistance: Sandor Earl. Photo: Jeffrey Chan Sandor Earl is expected to be interviewed again by Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority investigators before they decide whether he is eligible for a reduced ban. Earl, whose career with Canberra ended two weeks ago after he voluntarily stood down following an admission to ASADA investigators that he had used and transported the banned peptide CJC-1295 and other unidentified prohibited substances, was due to enter a plea on Tuesday. However, the NRL announced that the former Sydney Roosters and Penrith winger had been granted an extension of the initial 10 days he was given to formally reply to the infraction notice issued on August 29. An NRL statement said the extension was to allow ASADA to conduct further interviews with Earl. If guilty, the 23-year-old faces a suspension of two years for using a banned substance and four years for trafficking, which is defined under the WADA code as "selling, giving, transporting, sending, delivering or distributing a prohibited substance or prohibited method ... to any third party." However, Earl is seeking a 75 per cent reduction for providing "substantial assistance" to the investigation and hopes to be back playing in 12 months. To do so, he must provide information or evidence that helps ASADA lay further charges against others and Fairfax Media was told that Earl is yet to be guaranteed he would receive a discount. It is understood that Earl has so far provided information about sports scientist Stephen Dank, who recommended treatment for a shoulder injury while he was playing for the Panthers in 2011, and Dr Ijaz Khan, who injected him with the peptide at a Cabramatta clinic. The NRL said no time limit had been set on the extension granted to Earl, who remains provisionally suspended pending the resolution of his case. Meanwhile, the Rugby League Players Association is among athletes' bodies from around the world supporting the doubling of bans for drug cheats from two to four years for first offenders. The tougher new penalties are set to be introduced at WADA's congress in Johannesburg, South Africa, in November. WADA president John Fahey foreshadowed the change at a meeting of International Olympic Committee members in Argentina after lobbying from the International Association of Athletics Federations. "The athletes have demanded a tougher approach to cheats and, instead of the current two-year ban, the penalty will be doubled for first offenders," Fahey said. The RLPA is represented by the Australian Athletes Alliance. Fahey said the meeting of WADA's executive committee and foundation board would also look at tougher rules for the "athlete's entourage," namely coaches, trainers and sports scientists. However, the increased penalties will not apply to any NRL players caught up in the current ASADA investigation as the four-year sanctions will not come into effect until 2015.