Owner laments cocaine use in French rugby
The owner of glamour French rugby club Toulon says the arrests of Ali Williams and James O’Connor has shone a spotlight on the code’s cocaine problem.
“It’s only my opinion, but I have the impression that in certain clubs and among many players, coke is very popular,” said Toulon president Mourad Boudjellal.
He made the comments while announcing the immediate suspension of O’Connor, the former Wallaby who was arrested alongside Williams outside a Paris nightclub last weekend.
Williams, who is among a host of former All Blacks who have played for Toulon but is now with Paris- Michael Collins, Matt Duffie, Rieko Ioane, Piers Francis, Melani Nanai, Ihaia West, Augustine Pulu, Akira Ioane, Blake Gibson, Steven Luatua, Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, Jimmy Tupou (captain), Sione Mafileo, Matt Moulds, Pauliasi Manu.
Hame Faiva, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Charlie Faumuina, Patrick Tuipulotu, Jerome Kaino, Billy Guyton, George Moala, Rene Ranger. based Racing 92, has also been stood down from playing.
The ex-All Blacks lock was charged with buying cocaine and O’Connor with possession. They were allegedly detained outside a club near the Champs Elysees in possession of 2.4 grams of white powder.
Boudjellal’s comments came as French sporting experts have begun highlighting cocaine’s role as a stimulant which is particularly valuable in a high-octane spectacle like rugby.
“Cocaine boosts performance by increasing alertness, reactivity and aggressiveness,” said Xavier Bigard, scientific adviser to the French AntiDoping Agency.
Remarks from Christian Bagate, a former head of the French Rugby Federation medical commission, of “the Monday-Tuesday-Wednesday corticosteroid-cocaine cocktail” have gained headlines in France.
The mix is said to help a player through heavy training sessions at the start of the week and be ready for a match at the weekend. The body can quickly eliminate any trace before any weekend checks are likely.
According to Bigard, cocaine increases the heart rate but also eats into energy reserves.
“In reality, the situations where cocaine helps performance are in short burst, high-intensity efforts like in a weightlifting movement.”
Experts say that in a sport like rugby, the drug could assist sudden explosive efforts, split second decision-making and help combat the effects of tough tackling.
But Bigard said using the drug is dangerous, as athletes under the influence of cocaine are 20 times more likely to suffer sudden death than the average consumer. It is also addictive.
“It is a very practical product, easy and cheap to buy, for taking care of match after-effects and putting up with the heavy workload,” said former French rugby international Laurent Benezech, author of a 2014 book on the use of drugs in rugby.
“The barriers between the party side and the sporting are not solid. The first contact with cocaine almost certainly comes in the former.”
Boudjellal said that O’Connor’s case was “complicated”, and it might affect his contract renewal negotiations.
“It’s tough to defend him. We’ll talk about it with him,” Boudjellal said. “He’s a 26-year-old kid, I’m neither there to destroy him nor support him.”
Boudjellal said French clubs had to act against the spread of cocaine.
“We’ve had the alcohol stage, now we’re at another one. We can’t support that. That needs to stop.”