Ronnie O'sullivan will hope for a swift conclusion to his case after it was confirmed last night that he had failed a random drugs test during the Benson and Hedges Irish Masters.

O'Sullivan's solicitor, Gerry Sinclair, revealed that the tests had shown traces of cannabis in the world number three's system.

He will now be dealt with by a disciplinary committee set up by the game's governing body, the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA).

The 22-year-old UK champion went public after the testing of his B sample on Wednesday matched the results from an earlier positive A sample.

Yesterday the WPBSA refused to comment on when O'Sullivan's hearing might be.

"Until we receive official notification the second test proved positive we have no comment to make," said a spokesman at the sport's Bristol headquarters.

It took the WPBSA six months to punish Welsh Open champion Paul Hunter after he tested positive for taking cannabis at the 1997 Grand Prix.

The WPBSA stated the delay was caused due to "political uncertainty" making it impossible for them to form a disciplinary committee.

The composition of that committee is now known, but O'Sullivan is one of eight players calling for the board to be removed at an extraordinary general meeting in Preston on June 4th.

When finally brought to book, he must hope the disciplinary committee do not implement a two-year ban imposed in April 1996 after an incident at the world championship. This was suspended for two years on the basis of his future good conduct.

The current offence took place in March 1998 though his earlier appearance before the WPBSA was not for drug taking.

Hunter was fined £4,550 - a sum equal to his earnings from the Grand Prix - and docked 1,140 ranking points.