2012 IRB Anti-Doping Handbook Launched

Jan 31, 2012: Anti Doping Handbook Launched, Alain Rolland has been forced to withdraw from his appointment as Assistant Referee for the RBS 6 Nations match between Italy and England in Rome on February 11 due to a calf muscle strain.

The Irishman, who refereed the Rugby World Cup 2007 Final and a semi-final at Rugby World Cup 2011, will be replaced by fellow countryman George Clancy.

The match will be refereed by Jerome Garces of France on what will be his RBS 6 Nations debut. Rolland is expected to be fully fit in time to referee France v England in Paris on March 11 and Italy v Scotland in Rome on March 17.

2012 IRB Anti-Doping Handbook Launched

The 2012 IRB Anti-Doping Handbook is now available for download from www.keeprugbyclean.com, underscoring the governing body’s commitment to best-practice education and information. Available in eight languages, the one-stop resource is designed to educate and inform players, coaches, physicians and administrators at all levels of the Game about key Anti-Doping procedures.

The Handbook contains the 2012 World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) List of Prohibited Substances and Methods, Therapeutic Use Exemptions (TUE’s), urine and blood testing procedures, nutritional supplements and substance factsheets.

The IRB and its Member Unions operate a zero-tolerance policy towards drugs cheats in sport and an annual programme of over 5,000 tests is complemented by extensive outreach educational programmes run at IRB tournaments and by Member Unions to ensure that players do not make mistakes which could easily be avoided.

IRB Anti-Doping Manager Tim Ricketts said: “The IRB Anti-Doping Handbook is an essential resource for every player at any level. Rugby has a very good record, but it is built on a solid process of education to ensure that players understand not only the dangers of doping, but also that they are ultimately responsible for any prohibited substance found in their system.”

“Collectively it is our responsibility to ensure players continue to be appropriately educated. The IRB’s Keep Rugby Clean programme achieved great visibility at Rugby World Cup 2011 and has reached out 5,000 up and coming elite players over the past four years. This resource is another key element of that educational process.”

For more information on the IRB’s Anti-Doping programme or resources, visit www.keeprugbyclean.com

IRB Media Release and Pictures © IRB