Doping in Rugby

[Tony Manx]

http://www.rugbyrama.fr/rugby/lutte-anti-dopage-la-ffr-repond_sto3686427/story.shtml

Directior of Analysis in France has said that Rugby in France is the sport that throws up the most positive doping tests (excluding those for use of cannabis)......

Is this the norm in rugby and how prevalent is the use of performance enhancing drugs?

 

[gaston le gaff]

You have to read between the lines, when i did the drug testing in the RWC 2007 we did i think around 180/200 tests and no one was positive, the problem with thier figures is that its all about % 's and if you are not testing many and catching a few which is mainly cannabis the % seems high.I have done club testing for a few years and no one was ever positive. I think they are trying to throw the scent off the tour de France by using the rugby as a scape goat. The proteins which many players use are usually controlled by the clubs and they are told what to avoid especially if its bought on the net as this can be very dodgey.
I think you will find that this will burn out pretty quickly,the players are well advised and the penalties for drug abuse are serious and very high, this can ruin a players career, so few are involved, we are a long way from the Armstrong blood transfusions at high time!!!!!!!
but maybe we have to look at BO as that is 4 games on the trot unbeaten 3 wins and a draw, they must be on something, joints made of piment de Basque espelette sans doute !!!!!

 

[TRF_Olyy]

If there are so many positive tests (apparently) how come there are basically no bans?
The only bans I can think of recently were for use of banned non-performance enhancing stuff (like painkillers that are on the banned list etc., and the Bath players who were on coke).
Can't remember the last time I saw a pro player get banned for juicing - I remember a lower league Rugby League player getting done, but nothing else.

 

[lucky number 7]

I've heard it's more prevalent than we are lead to believe , with the use of ghg used in off season by many players as from what I've gathered it's very difficult to test for its abuse

 

[Tony Manx]

If there are so many positive tests (apparently) how come there are basically no bans?
.

I would totally agree with this and wondered where all the "positive tests" led to and why I had heard nothing but think that this from Gaston answers that!

You have to read between the lines, when i did the drug testing in the RWC 2007 we did i think around 180/200 tests and no one was positive, the problem with thier figures is that its all about % 's and if you are not testing many and catching a few which is mainly cannabis the % seems high.I have done club testing for a few years and no one was ever positive. I think they are trying to throw the scent off the tour de France by using the rugby as a scape goat. The proteins which many players use are usually controlled by the clubs and they are told what to avoid especially if its bought on the net as this can be very dodgey.
I think you will find that this will burn out pretty quickly,the players are well advised and the penalties for drug abuse are serious and very high, this can ruin a players career, so few are involved, we are a long way from the Armstrong blood transfusions at high time!!!!!!!
bu!

The only thing I have ever heard is a rumour that a French player had it written into his contract with an English Premiership club that he would not take drugs and, when asked to do so by the trainer, referred him to the Manager who confirmed this and the player was transferred at the end of that season.........

t maybe we have to look at BO as that is 4 games on the trot unbeaten 3 wins and a draw, they must be on something, joints made of piment de Basque espelette sans doute !!!!

Think it must be you on the sauce as we have oonly beaten a poor Grenoble team and the ASM seconds since losing by the odd 50 points to Toulon and drawing with Bayonne!! The renaissance may well be complete if they manage to get within a few points of Gloucester and I will be leaping from the rafters if they beat them to remain in the Amlin!!

 

[Canadian_Rugger]

The PED are usually about 3 years ahead of the latest technology in testing. Read up about the BALCO scandal in the States. Whenever money becomes involved in sport things like PEDs become more prvealent. Many teams will even turn a blind eye and some will even aid players with acquiring and using PEDs. If clubs will do things like Harlequins and "bloodgate" or the recent London Welsh "player ineligibility" scandal dn't be surprised if certain clubs or individuals are willing to help players acquire the latest in PED technology.

 

[ratsapprentice]

I probably fall into the minority of sports fans that don't particularly care tbh

 

[racingmetrofan]

I doubt its really an issue.

Far more concerned about drugs at an amateur level than a pro one.

 

[dasNdanger]

I probably fall into the minority of sports fans that don't particularly care tbh

I'm not sure how I feel about it. In a sport where one player can win or lose a game, then I think an end needs to be put to the doping thing across the board. But in team sports where everyone is playing at once (football, NFL, basketball, rugby, etc) I don't see where the PEDs actually help a team win. While strength and endurance are important, it still boils down to natural skill and the bounce of the ball.

Still, I think it's a sad commentary when teams/players feel the need to dope in order to win or even be competitive. It's a shortcut and suggests a lack of professional discipline.

I wouldn't worry about the pot thing. That just makes guys hungry and paranoid and I can't imagine it would have any positive impact on a game, in fact, quite the opposite. I can just see a buncha stoned rugby players on the pitch...

"Dude...where's the ball?"

"Chill, man...forget the ball and stretch out here in the grass...it's like, all sorts of soft and stuff."

"Whooooooaaa...that's gnarly, dude. It's like a pink polyester wool blend carpet, only it's green...and it's grass..."

"Oh, look...over there...the ball..."

"Wish it was a Twinkie..."


Yeah...I can't see as how cannabis would ever be considered 'doping' in the performance-enhancing sense of the word.


das

 

[ratsapprentice]

It's used medicinally as a painkiller. Though obviously all these guys are just using it recreationally.

 

[Canadian_Rugger]

I'm kind of with you ratsapprentice. I don't particularly care either tbh, I mean we could go on and on about things thta shouldn't be allowed because it makes things unfair. Some teams have invested in hyperbaric chambers for their athletes to increase lung capacity and simulate training at altitude. Should we ban these as well? It's professional sport and people are going to do what they need to do to win.

 

[lucky number 7]

It's actually quite an incredible painkiller. I've had a few nasty knocks that would upset me for a few days normally , an evening sitting in and remaining chill so to speak works absolute wonders for it.

That said it shouldn't be a controlled substance in sport. To suggest it gives any edge other than numb a bit of muscular / joint pain would be ridiculous.

But as I said earlier anabolics and other such substances are allegedly being used quite frequently. Especially in off season

 

[Peat]

I'm not sure how I feel about it. In a sport where one player can win or lose a game, then I think an end needs to be put to the doping thing across the board. But in team sports where everyone is playing at once (football, NFL, basketball, rugby, etc) I don't see where the PEDs actually help a team win. While strength and endurance are important, it still boils down to natural skill and the bounce of the ball.

Not always. England stole a huge march on the rest of the world in Woodward's day in terms of fitness which accounted for at least part of their success; Wales recently stole a small one and I'd say 2011/2012 their victories had a fair amount about to do with that. I think if one team was to systematically dope while the others didn't there would be a significant advantage.

I am personally uneasy about where rugby stands with it, it seems impossible there is not abuse going on and I feel a major scandal seems as probable as not over the next decade.