All Black ‘shocked’ by drug test
The burden of proof now lies with Patrick Tuipulotu.
New Zealand Rugby (NZR) and the New Zealand Rugby Players Association (NZRPA) confirmed yesterday that the 12-test All Blacks produced a positive drugs test during last year’s tour to the northern hemisphere.
In a joint statement, NZR and the NZRPA said Tuipulotu was shocked by the result and ‘‘working hard to identify the source of the specified substance.’’
Tuipulotu returned home prior to the team’s clash with France, due to what were described as ‘‘personal reasons.’’
‘‘New Zealand Rugby (NZR) and the New Zealand Rugby Players Association (NZRPA) can confirm that, in November 2016, they were notified that a doping control sample provided by Patrick Tuipulotu had, reportedly, revealed the presence of a Specified Substance listed on the World Anti-doping Agency’s 2016 Prohibited List,’’ the joint statement read.
It went on to say Tuipulotu was provisionally suspended ’’pending resolution of this matter.’’
That falls to him now, although it’s important to note that the substance in question is a specified one, meaning Wada accept Tuipulotu might not be guilty of taking something for performance enhancement. Responsibility for the presence of the substance in their system remains with the athlete but - significantly - the Wada tribunal are prepared to accept it could enter the body ‘‘inadvertently.’’
‘‘A specified substance is a substance which allows, under defined conditions, for a greater reduction of a two-year sanction when an athlete tests positive for that particular substance,’’ reads the Wada website.
It’s up to Tuipulotu to identify the source of the substance in his system and explain how it got there. It’s understood that he and those working on his behalf have yet to do that.
However, indications are that the explanation could be relatively innocent and Tuipulotu might have been naive, rather than out to cheat.
That doesn’t explain why the All Blacks said Tuipulotu left the end-of-year tour for ‘‘personal reasons’’ and why the Blues used the same phrase last week to describe the lock’s absence from their environment. His agent, Ben Boyle, and NZR have also cited this as a personal matter.
It’s understood that under Wada regulations, Tuipulotu would have been permitted to take an active part in the Blues’ preseason. It’s World Rugby who have suspended him, although for how long remains unclear.
Had Fairfax Media not brought this situation to light, it’s understood none of the sanctioning bodies involved would have been obliged to. Tuipulotu received notification of the failed test, but no details are released to the public until the matter is heard.
The 24-year-old Tuipulotu is signed with NZR until the end of 2019 and his ball skills and ability to hit in defence have marked him as a player of genuine promise.