Rugby World Cup organisers have announced their strict anti-doping programme had returned a 100 per cent pass-rate.

A total of 176 tests have so far been completed during the pool stages and quarter-finals of the tournament, with no positive results.

The International Rugby Board's anti-doping unit have introduced blood testing for the first time at a World Cup and report it was "well received" by players and team management.

Five players currently preparing for this weekend's World Cup semi-finals have supplied blood tests over the past two days.

All samples are tested for known substances but also kept on file for analysis when a procedure to check for human growth hormone is developed. The World Anti-Doping Agency expects that to be within 12 months.

The IRB's anti-doping manager Tim Ricketts said: "The programme has been the most extensive in the history of Rugby World Cup. The tournament testing programme has comprised four tests from each match and an out-of-competition blood-testing programme, the first for a World Cup.

"The IRB believes it is one of the first international sports governing bodies to collect blood serum out of competition, which has seen five players from each of the semi-finalists tested over the past two days in their hotels."

In the past 12 months, the IRB has conducted 430 "no notice, out-of-competition" tests on World Cup squad players.

"We are on target to conduct a record number of anti-doping tests in 2007, with some 1,130 controls due to be completed before the end of the year," Ricketts added.

Between 2004 and 2006, the IRB handed down suspensions to 14 players for returning positive tests for prohibited substances - including performance-enhancing and recreational drugs.

Australian dual international Wendell Sailor was given a two-year ban in 2006 after testing positive for cocaine.

Fijian winger Rupeni Caucaunibuca was ruled out of World Cup contention after receiving a three-month suspension for cannabis use.