WADA compliments Rugby World Cup for zero failed drug tests

468 samples were collected from players from the 20 nations involved.

Tue, 01 Dec, 2015 - 21:24

By Stephen Barry

There were no failed drugs tests recorded at the recent Rugby World Cup, it has been announced.

468 samples, 200 in-competition and 268 out-of-competition, were collected from players from the 20 nations involved and will be retained for future retesting.

World Rugby added that it has increased its testing and education budget by 30% this year, with 1,300 overall blood and urine tests undertaken between January and September.

That increase comes at the end of a year in which Toulon, three-time champions of Europe, were

WADA Director General David Howman said: “WADA commends World Rugby for implementing a robust anti-doping programme at Rugby World Cup 2015.

“With doping in sport very much in the spotlight, it is more important than ever for a sport as global as rugby to ensure it has a programme that combines intelligence-led testing with a strong education initiative such as Keep Rugby Clean.

“World Rugby has taken a positive step in increasing its resources for testing and education, and retaining samples for future analysis as is encouraged under the revised World Anti-Doping Code.”

The World Cup was also the first to feature the Athlete Biological Passport programme.