WADA: Kenya rugby plays it clean
An independent investigation commissioned by World Rugby has found no evidence to support allegations contained within the Kenya Anti-Doping Taskforce Report of April 2014 of systematic doping practices within the Kenya Rugby Union.
In a statement released on Thursday morning World Rugby stated that they take all doping allegations extremely seriously and commissioned the investigation, in conjunction with World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), in response to the findings of the Kenya Anti-Doping Taskforce Report which alleged doping practices by coaches involved in the senior national team 15s and sevens programmes during 2013-14.
Specifically, the Taskforce Report alleged: “In rugby, at the national team level and at two of the clubs there appears to be systematic doping of players through the use of food supplements laced with steroids.”
The comprehensive investigation was undertaken by independent World Rugby Anti-Doping Advisory Committee member Gregor Nicholson and specifically focused on whether there was any evidence to suggest that an anti-doping rule violation had occurred.
The investigation involved re-analysis of the supplements which were claimed to contain steroids, at a WADA accredited laboratory, and interviews with current and former Kenya Rugby Union coaches.
Specifically, the World Rugby investigation found that KRU supplies nutritional supplements to their teams and found no evidence that these supplements contained any banned substance.
EXONERATED
“We also found no evidence of an anti-doping rule violation having been committed by the Kenya Rugby Union or members of the national team coaching staff,” the statement read in part.
The report further exonerated former Kenya Sevens coach Paul Treu from any wrong doing.
“We found that supplements were not introduced to the players by Paul Treu, contrary to the allegations within the report,” it added.
World Rugby also noted that the Kenya men’s sevens and 15s squads were routinely tested in and out of competition at World Rugby events, with no adverse analytical findings. The outcomes of the investigation have been shared with WADA.
While the investigation did not identify evidence that an anti-doping rule violation may have been committed, World Rugby continues to work with the Kenya Rugby Football Union to implement robust supplement education to all players and coaching staff via its Keep Rugby Clean programme.
Kenyan players will also be tested extensively as part of the World Rugby anti-doping programme and in particular its pre-Olympic testing programme for participating unions and players.
World Rugby is also prioritizing the training of more regional educators to deliver anti-doping information at regional level, with a new pilot programme to be rolled out in 2016.
