Schoolboys prepped for drug testing

Drugfree Sport NZ (DFSNZ) has moved to prepare schoolboy rugby players for random drug testing at next month’s top four first XV finals in Palmerston North.

Their decision to randomly test players at the three-day tournament (Sep 8-10) has been both criticised and applauded since it was announced in July.

The decision was prompted by mounting fears secondary school players across the country were doping to meet growing pressure to perform, and increased publicity has resulted in DFSNZ this week releasing background testing information.

In the release, DFSNZ provided a summary of testing, while also linking a full video explanation on their website.

In short, testing will be conducted by DFSNZ under New Zealand Rugby (NZR) rules, with selected players being required to provide a urine sample in private, and under the supervision of accredited DFSNZ testing officials.

‘‘They are required to pull their shirt up to their chest and their pants to their knees so the sample is passed in full view of the chaperone,’’ the online video explains.

Players will be allowed to have a representative such as a coach or parent present during the process.

Samples will be analysed at the World Anti-Doping Agency accredited laboratory in Sydney, and analysis will focus on a limited range of substances which are taken to specifically enhance performance, while unlikely to be under medical prescription.

Should a player test positive without any medical justification, the normal results management process and, where applicable, sanction regime will apply.

Positive tests will result in a case being decided by the NZR judiciary, and the outcome may be made public at a later date.

Just what schools will be competing at the top fours tournament will be decided this weekend, with regional finals being played across the country.

While Christchurch’s Christ’s College is out of the running, coach Reuben Thorne said in July he was all for the testing.

‘‘It wouldn’t concern us but that’s only our region,’’ Thorne said. ’’I think the Crusaders region in general, the teams that we play against, I wouldn’t think there are any players that would be too concerned about it either.

‘‘I’m not sure what it’s like further north, if there is any more pressure on the boys in Auckland or Waikato. But certainly down here I don’t think there is anyone dabbling in anything they shouldn’t be.’’

A 2013 survey, featuring almost 150 first XV players, resulted in 70 per cent of them admitting they took four or more supplements, with 90 per cent of them also concerned about the safety of the products they were consuming. Two of the surveyed players admitted to taking a banned substance.

NZR Players boss Rob Nichol had a different view to Thorne, describing the looming testing as going down a ‘‘slippery slope’’.

‘‘To think Drug Free Sport NZ are now looking at secondary school sport and saying we’re concerned there is doping at that level, it’s really sad,’’ Nichol said. ‘‘That’s not what our school sporting environment should be about.

‘‘Schools should be taking a much more proactive leadership role and be able to say to DFSNZ there is no way kids in our sporting environments are doping, because one, we’ve got great education programmes, and two, we’ve set up protocols and processes around teams to ensure it’s just not a possibility.’’

Nichol was also baffled at the lack of schools taking up DFSNZ’s offer to hold a ‘‘clean sport’’ seminar.

At the time DFSNZ announced the random drug testing, only five of the remaining 23 schools in contention for the finals tournament had taken up the offer.

‘‘They tried to educate. Some schools took it up but an awful lot didn’t, and we’re bemused by that. Why would you not embrace the opportunity to educate these young people around the risks associated with supplements and anti-doping?’’