Carter and Rokocoko ‘sick’ at drug claims
No concerns says club, all medication was taken in compliance with regulations.
FRENCH rugby expects former All Blacks Dan Carter and Joe Rokocoko to be swiftly cleared after testing positive for banned substances.
Traces of steroids had been found in the urine of Racing 92 players Carter, Rokocoko and Argentinian Juan Imhoff following a drug test after the Top 14 final in June, French newspaper L’Equipe reported.
Rival French paper Le Monde said a ruling was due soon. The treatment was understood to be a local injection, generally used to ease pain associated with joint, ligament, or tendon problems, for which Therapeutic Use Exemptions required.
‘‘The investigation has finished and the commission is going to give a ruling quickly,’’ French Rugby Federation head of antidoping Christian Bagate told Le Monde.
The use was signalled in a report from the club doctor, who had also filed a declaration of usage.
Bagate is staunchly opposed to the use of corticosteroids, but the World Anti-Doping Agency has allowed more freedom in their use, he said.
‘‘I will always stand up for the fact that corticosteroids should not be taken, but you can’t ask people to drive at 90kmh if the speed limit is 200.’’
Their club, Racing 92, said the trio were ‘‘disgusted and sickened’’ at the accusations, L’Equipe reported.
The club said it had no concerns over the issue. (TUE) are not GETTY IMAGES
‘‘We understand the stir caused by the word ‘‘corticosteroid’’. This word carries strong emotional implications as it relates to immoral and illegal conduct. It also relates to known, legal practices that are justified by the medical profession,’’ it said in a statement.
‘‘All medical procedures undertaken on the players quoted in the media have been done so with in full compliance with international anti-doping regulations, both in terms of administrative procedures as well as medical. This relates to treatments administered by authorised methods, provided in response to proven pathological techniques, several days before the Top 14 final and did not require TUE (therapeutic usage exemption).’’
‘‘Racing 92 would like to strongly declare that its ethics and its sporting practice are in no way linked with illegal practices. We side with the law, with ethics and we abide by the values of a clean sport. We don’t train players, we train men. Health and morality are at the heart of this,’’ the statement said.
‘‘Racing 92 fully commits to collaborating with all relevant medical investigation authorities so that the discussion may give way to a full understanding of the situ- GETTY IMAGES ation for all involved.
‘‘All medical procedures have been made clear. Transparency will be absolute. We stand alongside those who fight for a clean, respected sport.
‘‘Juan Imhoff, Joe Rokocoko and Dan Carter are exemplary of what we expect in terms of the behaviour, generosity and ethics of our time.’’
French Sports Minister Patrick Kanner said French rugby authority FFR would study the case and ‘‘take on its responsibilities’’ with regard to whether Racing might be stripped of the title.
Kanner said normally a request should be made should a player want to take such substance for treatment purposes.
‘‘As far as I know today, there was no request made ahead of time, but people are allowed to regularise these things after the event,’’ he said on France Info radio. ‘‘Perhaps that’s a flaw in French law.’’