Last updated: 8 September 2009

ANTI DOPING RULE VIOLATIONS

(See below for .pdf documents of all sanctions)

2009: A total of one player from Georgia has committed an anti-doping rule violation under the IRB's Anti-Doping Programme in 2009 to date.
CountrySubstanceOutcome
GeorgiaCannabis4 month sanction


2008: A total of 12 players have been found to have committed anti doping rule violations under the IRB's programme in 2008, two from Georgia, one from Venezuela, one from Cook Islands, two from Chile, two from Canada, one from France, two from Samoa and one from Russia.
CountrySubstanceOutcome
VenezuelaNandrolone2 year sanction
Georgia19-Norandrosterone2 year sanction
GeorgiaCannabis5 month sanction
Cook IslandsCannabis3 month sanction
ChileClenbuterol2 year sanction
CanadaCannabis3 month sanction
FranceTuaminoheptaneWarning and Reprimand
SamoaSalbutamol2 year sanction
CanadaFinasterideWarning and Reprimand
SamoaSalbutamol2 year sanction
RussiaIndapamideWarning and Reprimand
ChileCannabis4 month sanction

2007: A total of five players were found to have committed anti doping rule violations under the IRB's programme in 2007, two from Georgia, one from Samoa, one from Sri Lanka and one from Iran.
CountrySubstanceOutcome
Georgia x 2Cannabis3 month sanction
SamoaFurosemide2 year sanction
Sri LankaCannabis3 month sanction
Iran19-Norandrosterone2 year sanction

2006: A total of six players were found to have committed anti doping rule violations under the IRB's programme in 2006, two from Russia, one from Chile, one from Fiji, one from Argentina and one from Namibia.
CountrySubstanceOutcome
ArgentinaStanozolol18 month sanction
NamibiaMethandienone2 year sanction
ChileEphedrine6 week sanction
Russia x 2
Cannabis4 months sanction
FijiCannabis3 months saction

2005: A total of three players were found to have committed anti doping rule violations under the IRB's programme in 2005.
CountrySubstanceOutcome
USAFinasteride1 year sanction
Kenyahydrochlorthiazide2 years sanction
UkraineCannabinoids6 months sanction

2004: A total of four Players were found to have committed anti doping rule violations under the IRB's programme in 2004.
CountrySubstanceOutcome
FranceCannabis
MoroccoCannabis
NamibiaSalbutamol*
ZimbabweSalbutamol*

* Salbutamol is permitted via inhalation for the treatment of asthma or exercise induced asthma/broncho spasm when the Player and their prescribing doctor complete an abbreviated Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) form. In both of these cases no abbreviated TUE was submitted.

2004: A further four cases under the jurisdiction of the Netherlands Rugby Bond (NRB) were appealed by the Board after the original decisions were received by the IRB and reviewed by members of the IRB Anti Doping Advisory Committee. The cases were heard by a *Board Appeal Committee and **final decisions were handed down in 2006.

*At the time of these offences IRB Regulation 21 permitted a Board Appeal Committee to hear cases dealt with initially by Member Unions following a review of the case decision by members of the IRB Anti Doping Advisory Committee.
CountrySubstanceOutcome
NetherlandsCocaine & Methylenediomtamphetamine18 months (6 months already served under NRB decision)
NetherlandsCocaine & Cannabis20 months (4 months already served under NRB decision)
NetherlandsMethylenediomtamphetamine & Cannabis18 months (6 months already served under NRB decision)
NetherlandsCocaine & CannabisNo change to original sanction handed down by NRB (4 months)


** For copies of the Board Judicial Committee decisions for the Dutch cases listed above, please contact Tim Ricketts, IRB Anti-Doping Manager via email tim.ricketts@irb.com.