Russians banned, but Treu cleared
World Rugby confirmed that an investigation has found no evidence to support allegations contained within the Kenya anti-doping task force report of April 2014 of systematic doping practices within the Kenya Rugby Football Union.
Treu, currently the defence coach at the Stormers, was implicated in the alleged doping.
He always denied the charges, but was forced out and moved back to Cape Town – where the joined up with Western Province and the Stormers.
World Rugby said in a statement that they take all doping allegations extremely seriously and commissioned the investigation, with the full support of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), in response to the findings of the Kenya anti-doping task force report – which alleged doping practices by coaches involved in the senior national 15-a-side and Sevens programmes during 2013 and 2014.
Specifically, the 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 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 statement said.
"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 Football Union coaches."
The World Rugby investigation said it:
* Confirmed use of nutritional supplements by the Kenya Rugby Football Union.
* Found no evidence to suggest that the supplements used by the Kenya Rugby Football Union contained any banned substance.
* Found no evidence of an anti-doping rule violation having been committed by the Kenya Rugby Football Union or members of the national team coaching staff.
* Found that supplements were not introduced to the players by Paul Treu, contrary to the allegations within the report.
* Noted that the Kenya men's Sevens and 15-a-side squads were routinely tested in and out of competition at World Rugby events, with no adverse analytical findings.
"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," the statement said.
"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 prioritising 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."
* Meanwhile World Rugby confirmed that it has provisionally suspended two Russia national Sevens players from all competition following notification of potential anti-doping rule violations, both involving the prohibited substance Meldonium (Mildronate).
These suspensions are imposed in accordance with World Anti-Doping Agency compliant World Rugby Regulation 21.
"Alexey Mikhaltsov, a member of the national Sevens squad, returned an adverse analytical finding following an out of competition test conducted by World Rugby and was suspended on February 4," a statement said.
"Alena Mikhaltsov [née Bogacheva], a member of the national women's squad, returned an adverse analytical finding following an out of competition test conducted by World Rugby and was provisionally suspended on 26 February, 2016.
"World Rugby moved to confirm these findings in accordance with World Rugby Regulation 21.14.3.1 after the Rugby Union of Russia issued a public statement following recent media speculation.
"World Rugby will not be making any further comment until the completion of the process."
