Paris French rugby club Racing 92 rejected rumours on Friday that three of their players, including former All Black star Dan Carter, had broken anti-doping rules in administering corticosteroids.
Responding to a report in French sports newspaper L’Equipe, which said traces of the drug had been detected in urine samples from Carter, another New Zealand player Joe Rokocoko and Argentine Juan Imhoff at the final of the Top 14 competition in June, the club said that the players had respected anti-doping rules.
“All the medical procedures practiced on the players and cited by the media were done with full respect for national and international anti-doping rules,” Racing said in a statement.
“This is related to treatment administered in an authorised method, provided in response to proven pathologies, multiple days before the Top 14 finale and not requiring a TUE (Therapeutic Use Exemption),” the club added.
However, the New Zealand Herald quoted Simon Porter from the management group which represents 2015 World Cup winner Carter and Rokocoko as saying: “We have been aware of the issue for a few weeks. Our understanding and assurances we’ve had are all the documents around TUEs were in place.”
L’Equipe reported that the French Agency Against Doping (AFLD) ran surprise tests on players in Barcelona on June 25 as they prepared to compete in the Top 14 finale that saw Racing defeat Toulon 29-21.
Corticosteroids are forbidden during competition except for in special cases. The newspaper reported that the three players did not have TUEs.
Racing said that it collaborates fully with all medical investigations, and said that “transparency will be total.
“Dan Carter, Juan Imhoff and Joe Rokocoko are examples of everyday generosity, behaviour and ethics,” the club added.
Ben
Guest
Corticosteroids ARE performance enhancing. They can provide performance benefits beyond the anti inflammatory effect (short term increases in muscle strength, increased energy levels and endurance) - benefits that would have been fantastic if you were playing in say, a Top 14 final with a man down for over 60 minutes. It is because of these benefits the AFLD tests for it. The FRF will want this to go away and Toulon is certainly not in a strong position to complain given its recent history. I expect that if Racing's doctor declares that injections into joints only were administered and this treatment is corroborated by the players this will not be pursued any further. It would be nice to hear directly from the players rather than their agent (who did the players credibility no favours by suggesting tues were in place) but I guess it is to be expected in the circumstance.
Common Sense
Roar Rookie
This isn't complex, you are over thinking this. The Racing doctor prescribed the drug to the players and administered it to them accordingly. The FFR say they have that paperwork. Their investigation is whether or not the amount administered to the athletes corresponds to the injury in question and to what is written in the paperwork. A TUE is not required if the doctor believes the drug is necessary medically and if the drug is administered via a syringe through the skin directly to the problem area. All of that is consistent to what the AFLD and Racing has said. This is isn't an anabolic steroid, it isn't even performance enhancing. It is used to reduce inflammation. The drug is used readily by many professional athletes in most sports and is perfectly legal to do so under specific circumstances. This is very irresponsible reporting by L'Equipe. They've found that the headline 'Dan Carter tests positive to steroids' too appetising to pass up; to hell with the reputations at stake.
piru
Roar Rookie
At worst this is case of incorrectly filed paperwork
Ben
Guest
......said Lance Armstrong after his 1999 positive test to corticosteroids. There is a story here and L'equipe has reported on it very fairly - they have simply stated the facts (three positive in competition test results with no Tue). Carter and Rokocoko's agent confused the issue by stating his understanding was that a Tue was in place. Other news agencies further confused the issue by infering that the testing had occurred out of competition. Racing have not yet provided any information to the public regarding the ailments and prescribed treatments of the players however have promised complete transparency. The AFLD have not commented publicly on the matter. Let's hope the AFLD come out soon and confirm that it is satisifed with Racing's explanation. It raises fairly complex problems if they don't (ie should it effect the result of the final?)
Common Sense
Roar Rookie
The drug is allowed in professional sport on medical grounds. The players had medical grounds. There is no story.
Jacko
Guest
Hopefully the 3 guys sue the pants off the News Paper
Ralph
Roar Guru
Media - told some lies, smeared some names - but it's all good because we sold some newspapers.
Paulo
Roar Rookie
I'll speculate - likely the test indeed showed the result. As there was a justification for their use, the AFLD just let it lie and didn't report on it. A joker in the AFLD (perhaps a football fan) decided to "leak" the info and L'Equipe, looking for a good headline and click-bait published it (what, journos looking for headlines? Doesn't happen). Mission accomplished, got their page views.
Ben
Guest
It actually appears to be three positive results to a game day test (the test was taken immediately after the game). Dan's agent incorrectly said there was a tue. It is now on Racing to retrospectively plead that the presence of the corticosteroids was legitimate. This is a serious investigation, particularly as it was three separate players with potentially three distinct ailments. Hopefully Racings promises of transparency are followed through. We are getting used to organisations saying one thing and then doing the complete opposite.
jameswm
Roar Guru
This is a joke of a story. Cortico steroids are ALLLOWED out of competition. It was an out of competition test. Carter has done nothing wrong.