UPDATE 1-Rugby-England international Lipman resigns from Bath

(Updates with players' statement)

By Martyn Herman

LONDON, June 1 (Reuters) - England international Michael Lipman and two team mates resigned from Bath rugby club on Monday shortly before they were to attend an internal disciplinary hearing over an alleged missed drugs test.

Bath said loose forward Lipman, joint club captain Alex Crockett and Andrew Higgins had left the club. The players later released a statement denying they had ever missed an anti-doping test and adding they were victims of "scurrilous and unsubstantiated allegations".

Their decision to leave follows the departure of Bath's former Australia lock Justin Harrison who was released early from his contract.

Bath chief executive Bob Callega said in a statement the trio had been required to appear at an internal disciplinary hearing "to address the failure on three occasions to take a drugs test following allegations surrounding player conduct on Sunday May 10".

He said immediately before the hearings were due to take place the players had resigned.

The Rugby Football Union said it expected to conclude its own investigation within seven days. Earlier this year Bath's England prop Matt Stevens admitted taking cocaine and was banned from all rugby for two years.

In a statement released through their solicitor the three players said their positions at the club had become untenable.