Drugs not a feature of RWC

Rugby: Just one player tested positive for a banned painkiller at the recent rugby World Cup in New Zealand, the International…

Rugby:Just one player tested positive for a banned painkiller at the recent rugby World Cup in New Zealand, the International Rugby Board (IRB) has said.

The unnamed player, whose team were eliminated after the pool phase, has been provisionally suspended until the outcome of a disciplinary hearing. The IRB conducted 216 urine tests and collected 76 blood samples during the tournament.

"The IRB and its member unions operate a zero-tolerance policy towards doping in rugby and this comprehensive testing programme administered across the 20 teams both before and during the tournament underscores our collaborative commitment in this pivotal area of the game," IRB anti-doping manager Tim Ricketts said in a statement.

"The one adverse finding also demonstrates that education is key, even for painkillers."