Following an in-competition test at a National Championship match between Newcastle Emlyn and Glynneath on 8 April 2017, Thomas Curry, a student registered with Newcastle Emlyn RFC, returned a urine sample which tested positive for benzoylecgonine a metabolite of cocaine. Mr Curry was subsequently charged with an Anti-Doping Rule Violation (ADRV) for the Presence of a Prohibited Substance under UK Anti-Doping Rule (ADR) Article 2.1 and the matter referred to the NADP for determination. An appeal of the NADP decision has been dismissed and the four year suspension imposed from 28 April 2017. The full NADP First Instance Decision can be found here. The full Appeal Decision can be found here.
WRU Policy and integrity manager Jeremy Rogers said, “We are committed to promoting anti-doping, and take our responsibilities very seriously. Education is a key component of anti-doping alongside the testing programme, and we’ve increased our efforts to train a network of UKAD educators and deliver workshops to ensure players, coaches and athlete support personnel are well-educated on issues such as supplements, medications and anti-doping rules and are fully aware of their responsibility in the matter.
“Over the past season we have delivered 26 anti-doping education workshops to players and support personnel from clubs around Wales. School club hub officers have also started to receive training in order to roll out advice and education to pupils throughout Wales on the importance of good diet, training, recovery and health.
“There is no place for doping in Welsh rugby,” added Rogers, “and we hope that these measures will reduce the risk of long-term bans which damage players’ on and off-field careers and the reputation of all involved. We want players to make good decisions both on and off the field, and we are seeking to raise awareness and education levels in the club game around anti-doping.
“The WRU Anti-Doping Rules are based on strict liability, so players are solely responsible for any substance found in their system, whether inadvertent or intentional, performance-enhancing or recreational, and long-term bans not only adversely affect the player but the rest of their team, family and club.”
Any clubs yet to nominate a club integrity officer to receive anti-doping material and training are urged to put forward a key member of their senior or youth team management to fulfil the important role. Club integrity officers are the point of contact for all information regarding anti-doping and they are invited to ‘Train the Trainer’ workshops across Wales so that they, in turn, can deliver key messages to players and support personnel within their club.
“We’ve had a good response so far,” added Rogers, “and I would encourage those clubs who have not yet engaged with us, to provide their nomination. This will enable us to continue to roll out the education programme, and support clubs in ensuring that we promote the positive values of our game.”
For more information on role of a club integrity officer or to nominate a person in your club for the role, please contact Nick Edwards nedwards@wru.wales
All information on how to check medication, supplements and banned substances can be found on the WRU website at www.wru.wales/antidoping
