Dublin – Ireland, July 30, 2013: The International Rugby Board is pleased to announce that no positive results were returned from testing conducted in-competition at the Rugby World Cup Sevens 2013 tournament in Moscow.
Tests from the RWC Sevens show that of the 133 samples collected during the tournament from June 28-30, all returned negative results.
This year’s event in the Russian capital saw a record number of tests conducted, with a 66 per cent increase on RWC Sevens 2009. All of the 99 urine samples and 34 blood samples taken from competitors during the tournament returned a negative result. The national anti-doping agency of Russia (RUSADA) was contracted as the sample collection authority for the tournament.
IRB Chairman Bernard Lapasset has welcomed the news: “Today’s figures are proof of the hard work that is being carried out by the IRB anti-doping team.”
“Education is the key to preventing doping in our sport and it’s clear to see that the Keep Rugby Clean message is getting through to more and more players around the world. While these results are positive news, we cannot afford to become complacent and we must remain vigilant to the constant threat of doping in sport.”
A total of 1,117 tests were carried out on Sevens players across all regions in the 18 months prior to the Rugby World Cup Sevens which returned a total of 10 anti–doping rule violations.
“In the run-up to the Rugby World Cup Sevens we invested significant resources for out-of-competition testing,” said IRB Anti-Doping Manager for Testing and Education Ilaria Baudo.
“It is just as important to maintain testing before competitions start as it is during the tournament. We’re very happy that all our tests during RWC Sevens returned negative results for banned substances and it’s further proof that our anti-doping education policy is working well.”
In addition to the testing programme, a comprehensive education programme was put in place during the Rugby World Cup Sevens in Moscow. As part of that, each participating player received a copy of the IRB anti-doping handbook, which has been translated into nine languages.
A Keep Rugby Clean outreach station was also put in place where players and team management had the opportunity to learn more about the dangers and consequences of doping by completing the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) interactive online quiz in the presence of the IRB anti-doping team in Moscow.
All IRB anti-doping education resources are available in several different languages on www.keeprugbyclean.com
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