WRU issues doping warning
Owen Morgan, who played for Merthyr has been banned from all sport for four years after testing positive for the anabolic steroid drostanolone and the stimulant benzoylcgonine (a metabolite of cocaine), following an in-competition test.
Greg Roberts, who played for Glynneath has been banned from all sport for two years after testing positive for a metabolite of tamoxifen (a prohibited substance under Section 4, Hormone and Metabolic Modulators, of the WADA Prohibited List).
"These bans serve as a strong warning to everyone in the game that non-compliance with anti-doping rules carries grave consequences.
"There is no place for doping within sport, and it certainly doesn't fit in with the values of rugby union. Whether intentional, or inadvertent, players have a responsibility to themselves, each other, their clubs and the sport to act within the rules and spirit of the game.
"We work closely with UK Anti-Doping and fully adhere to the World Anti-Doping Code. There is no room in the code for carelessness or not knowing, and players are encouraged to check the prohibited lists, which include over-the-shelf medication and supplements. We want to rid our game of these practices and help protect our game," WRU group chief executive Martyn Phillips said.
WRU launched a nationwide anti-doping campaign last December to raise awareness of intentional and non-intentional doping.
"By making the wrong choices, Owen Morgan and Greg Roberts have cheated themselves, their team mates and their sport. Not only have they damaged their sporting careers but they have put their health at risk.
"Our primary focus remains on taking a preventative approach to doping by working to eradicate the source of the problem. We do this in partnership with National Governing Bodies of sport, educating athletes on the risks they take if they decide to take drugs and helping them to make the right choices based on the true spirit of sport.
"At the same time we continue to develop our links with a wide range of law enforcement partners, to combat the production and supply of these substances. In doing so we are protecting sport, and helping to curb the increasingly worrying trend of steroid abuse by young men," Nicole Sapstead, UKAD's chief executive said.
Wales captain Sam Warburton has called on everyone involved in the game in Wales to protect the sport, so that every player has the right to compete with and against other clean players.
There are now four year bans for cheating involving serious doping substances (e.g. steroids and growth hormone) and refusal or evading sample collection. Since the launch of the campaign at the end of last year, WRU has also trained its coach development officers to become anti-doping advisors and educators, so they can deliver the anti-doping education.
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