NZ Rugby reject supplements and back drug tests for First XVs
New Zealand Rugby believes schoolboy players should not be taking supplements and supports Drugfree Sport NZ’s move to test those at First XV level for potential anti- doping breaches.
While Drugfree Sport NZ ( DFS) has previously tested at the national under- 19 rugby tournament, as well as teens involved in other Olympic sports, for the first time this will be extended to the Top Four First XV finals in Palmerston North in September.
The move was prompted by a 2013 survey, featuring almost 150 First XV players, which resulted in 70 per cent admitting they took four or more supplements; 90 per cent were concerned about the safety of these products. Two players also admitted taking a banned supplement.
While NZ Rugby is confident its high performance teams, from provincial through to Super Rugby and representative, provide good doping education, the same confidence does not extend to schools.
Head of professional rugby Chris Lendrum says fears are justified given the way supplements have rapidly evolved. From protein to preworkout, variety alone is endless.
“It has taken off. Accessibility has exploded. There’s a large amount of misinformation around the supplement industry,” Lendrum told the Weekend Herald. “Aside from antidoping, there’s also health and wellbeing risks.
“It’s not uncommon for products to have ingredients that aren’t listed. It’s very much a buyer beware scenario. That’s why at New Zealand Rugby, together with the Players’ Association, we’ve taken a position on the use of supplements by young players: we don’t support it.
“Supplements have a place in a fully- resourced high performance environment but nowhere else, so it is concerning. The research DFS have conducted with the University of Otago into the attitudes of First XV players in New Zealand, while two or three years old, definitely displayed some concerning feedback.
“We understand why they have taken this step and it’s incumbent on DFS and schools to deliver the education to minimise the risks.”
One major driver believed to be behind the use of supplements in schoolboy rugby i s the intense competitiveness that stretches from recruitment to stringent training regimes. Many players are signed to long- term professional contracts while still at school. Some First XV coaches are also thought to be on sixfigure salaries.
“If you take all of those factors, you can see why there’s increased pressure and risk of integrity i ssues whether that be player eligibility or supplement use. It’s a higher risk environment than it’s ever been.”
Lendrum said the fact schoolboy rugby was televised increased the pressure on players and made the sport “much more important to the big schools. That’s probably part of the reason why DFS has decided to take the position they have now.”
There is plenty of help available for schools around doping. NZ Rugby provides online interactive programmes which cover supplement policies and DFS runs anti- doping workshops. But many of these have been overlooked by leading rugby schools, Lendrum says.
“It’s accessible. As to how the message i s received and acted on, that’s a little bit harder to gauge. The difficulty gauging that is part of the reason why DFS has decided to undertake testing at the top four. It’s not really a surprise. It’s DFS’s remit to decide on testing and we support that remit.”
Clearly, lack of education around supplements breeds inherent risks. And the big worry around testing teenagers comes with unintentional consequences; the potential of future prospects being ruined by a mistake.
If a player is found guilty of taking a banned substance, they will be subject to a NZR tribunal assembled in accordance with the World Anti- Doping Agency code, the results of which will then be made public.
“That’s a risk but we’ve got a good relationship with DFS and we trust them to get that right. There’s a lot of work to do in the next couple of months for sure but there’s no reason why they can’t do it. They’re well resourced, and if schools embrace this, there will be every opportunity to get this sorted.”
The other issue raised by schools is one of consent. DFS does not require parental permission because the Top Four tournament is held under the auspices of NZR who are signatories to the Wada code.
“It’s not really for us to get involved in the consent process. We’re dealing with minors, so I understand why people would be concerned about that but this is a professional organisation that have tested people under the age of 18 previously in other sports, so we back them to get it right.”