World Rugby Confirms Record Doping Tests
Ahead of the Rugby World Cup later this year, World Rugby has confirmed details of its record testing programme in 2014, with more players tested and given anti-doping education last year than ever before.
Rugby’s governing body delivered mandatory education workshops to 3,377 players, coaches and staff through its Keep Rugby Clean programme and collected a total of 2,021 samples last year.
In total, a record 7,000 players, coaches and staff took part in either face-to-face or online anti-doping education in 2014.
The programme, which included a further increase in blood and urine testing, saw two anti-doping rule violations – a Moldova player and a Sri Lanka player – with a further two cases pending.
Last year World Rugby began its Athlete Biological Passport programme, monitoring individual biological profiles collected in urine and blood over time. The ABP looks for changes in the profiles that may indirectly indicate doping and allows for better targeting of players for specific analysis.
The increase features testing in and out of competition at World Rugby’s flagship tournaments included Rugby World Cup 2015 qualifiers, Women’s Rugby World Cup 2014, HSBC Sevens World Series, World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series, World Rugby U20 tournaments and age-grade rugby.
World Rugby chief executive Brett Gosper said: “Rugby is founded on fair play and the promotion of a level playing field for all. World Rugby is fully committed to a zero-tolerance attitude towards drug cheats in our sport.”
Gosper will join the UCI’s Brian Cookson on stage at the Sport Industry Breakfast Club, powered by CWM FX, at The BT Centre on 17th March. Join the club today.
World Rugby anti-doping manager for testing and education Ilaria Baudo added: “Blood testing and biological passports are an integral part of a targeted testing programme that continues to be based on assessment of risk factors.
“This is helped by our commitment to working with national anti-doping organisations (NADOs) around the world, which has allowed us share information and get better results.”
