Positive tests: Doping or a dodgy drink?
Zimbabwean rugby has been rocked by the news that 13 of the team's 26 players tested positive for banned stimulants at the Junior World Rugby Trophy finals in the United States last month.
The International Rugby Board (IRB) anti-doping unit conducted extensive tests in tournament in Utah, screening urine and blood samples from all teams.
At least 13 'Young Sables' who were randomly tested provided samples containing performance enhancing substances, the IRB said.
According to reports, the Zimbabwe Rugby Union fears that a sports drink used by players when they got to the US could have been responsible for the positive tests. The players are reportedly adamant that they did not take banned substances knowingly.
Zimbabwe lost all their group matches to Japan, Georgia and Canada.
The IRB's head of communications, Dominic Rumbles, said the world body had a zero-tolerance stance with regards to doping and that all players who tested positive will be provisionally banned from the sport.
'In the event of a positive result, IRB will not comment until parties are notified and final hearings into any such matter are concluded,' said Dominic.
Comments
jonesy2 says...
well if was a drink then wouldnt ALL of the players test positive or do only half the team need to hydrate?
Posted 06:58 20th July 2012
Ripzy007 says...
@APV yes their is usually a list of ban substances and its huge....
Posted 04:00 17th July 2012
Scrumpoacher says...
Man our country keeps going backwards!
Posted 19:40 13th July 2012
tweedledee49 says...
thank goodness it was positive for banned substance...well not really a good thing, but something else came to mind when I saw the headline...
Posted 16:27 13th July 2012
APV1 says...
What a shame, especially if it's unknowingly done. As professional athletes it must be tough knowing what is acceptable and what isn't.
Is there a list..?
Posted 13:48 13th July 2012
Houston_11 says...
It's either a drink they've all taken or they've agreed to take the same substance... hoping for the first.
Posted 13:26 13th July 2012
Carpelone says...
Poor old Zim!
Posted 20:29 12th July 2012