Rugby World Cup
World Rugby vigilant after doping-free Rugby World Cup
ESPN Staff
December 1, 2015
© (Photo by Matt Lewis - World Rugby/World Rugby via Getty Images)

World Rugby says it will stay vigilant over the dangers of doping off the back of positive news the 468 samples collected at the Rugby World Cup returned "no adverse analytical findings".

In a statement released on Wednesday World Rugby said of those 468 samples, 268 were out-of-competition and 200 in-competition taken from across the 20 participating teams. The testing programme compromised a mix of urine and blood tests with the findings analysed at a WADA-accredited laboratory in London.

The programme comes off the back of a 30 per cent increase in World Rugby's testing and education budget for 2015 and the introduction of the Athlete Biological Passport (ABP) programme in 2013.

World Rugby chairman Bernard Lapasset said: "Doping is a major threat to the integrity of sport and World Rugby is committed to a prevention programme of targeted testing and global education to ensure that players at all levels understand the performance and health importance of maintaining a level playing field for all.

"Our Rugby World Cup 2015 programme was based on intelligence-led testing and reflects our commitment to ensure that we are ahead of the curve in this area. While there were no adverse findings before, or during, Rugby World Cup 2015 that doesn't mean we can become complacent as to the risks. That is why we have increased our budget in this important area and committed to storing samples for potential further analysis.

"As our showcase tournament, Rugby World Cup 2015 provided a global platform to reach, engage and educate the global rugby family at all levels as well as wider society. Collectively, we must continue to drive the education agenda and protect clean players. I would like to thank everyone who took part and supported this important programme."

WADA director general David Howman added: "WADA commends World Rugby for implementing a robust anti-doping programme at Rugby World Cup 2015.

"With doping in sport very much in the spotlight, it is more important than ever for a sport as global as rugby to ensure it has a programme that combines intelligence-led testing with a strong education initiative such as Keep Rugby Clean. World Rugby has taken a positive step in increasing its resources for testing and education, and retaining samples for future analysis as is encouraged under the revised World Anti-Doping Code."

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