England v South Africa, Twickenham, November 27
Johnson happy with doping policy
ESPNscrum Staff
November 23, 2010

England manager Martin Johnson believes that the stringent ant-doping programme enforced by the RFU will prevent any of his players becoming embroiled in drugs scandals similar to those affecting the Springbok camp.

Bjorn Basson and Chiliboy Ralepelle were last week sent home following positive tests for the banned stimulant methylhexaneamine after South Africa's victory over Ireland on November 6.

Six Springboks were tested by UK Sport in the wake of their defeat to Scotland in Edinburgh last weekend, four more than usual, and the tourists have already stopped using all supplements as they search for the answer to the positive tests.

Methylhexaneamine was originally intended to be used as a nasal decongestant but in recent times it has found its way into dietary supplements. It normally stays in the body for 24 hours. Johnson expressed his surprise that there had not been further cases in the sport due to 'cross-contamination' but also extolled the virtues of the RFU's policy.

"We haven't changed anything about what we do because we are careful anyway," he said. "You have got to be very careful. Tiny amounts of substance can get detected nowadays and suddenly you fail a drugs test. It is very easy for that to happen.

"Even when I was playing, way back in the distant past, there was fear of cross-contamination. It is amazing there isn't more. We had the testers in last week. There has been a lot of testing going on and I am very happy that what we have got in place with our guys is thorough. It has to be."

Methylhexaneamine was recently the subject of an IRB warning, one that was passed from the RFU to its member clubs, while England's elite players, along with their counterparts from the IRB's top 20 ranked sides, are also part of the World Anti-Doping Agency's player whereabouts scheme.

"Our guys have to be where they say they'll be for an hour a day for the drugs testers," Johnson said. "They can get tested in their allotted hour, they can get tested randomly. They can get tested after matches and they know that."

Johnson has also released 11 players back to their clubs for domestic duty this weekend, including Stade Francais' James Haskell and London Irish's Delon Armitage. Joining them are Anthony Allen (Leicester Tigers), Dave Attwood (Gloucester), George Chuter (Leicester Tigers), Paul Doran-Jones (Gloucester), Tim Payne (Wasps), Chris Robshaw (Harlequins), David Strettle (Saracens), James Simpson-Daniel (Gloucester) and Joe Worsley (Wasps).

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