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Toulon are three-time European champions. AP/Press Association Images

Boudjellal defends Toulon after doping allegations in French media

It has been alleged that pharmacies in Toulon were illegally providing players with products.

Updated 10.35

MOURAD BOUDJELLAL SAYS Toulon have nothing to be worried about despite reports in the French media that they have been caught up in a criminal investigation involving pharmacists illegally distributing products to their players.

Prosecutors in Marseille confirmed this morning that they have launched an investigation into the practices of a number of pharmacies in Toulon following a notification from AFDL, France’s anti-doping authority.

Speaking to L’Équipe, one of the prosecutors, Brice Robin, stated that “we are quite far from doping” in this case, instead indicating that “this is to do with a non-compliance to the code of public health for the supply of drugs.”

French broadcasters RTL were the first to address the story this morning and reported that the investigation began in May.

According to RTL, there were suspicions that a pharmacist or pharmacists had been illegally supplying Toulon players with “substances related to doping,” including antibiotics and anabolic steroids. RTL also said the case could double up as “social security fraud”.

However, Toulon president Boudjellal called a press conference to rubbish the story, telling La Provence journalist Laurent Blanchard:

No (Toulon) player is concerned in this affair, it’s totally unfounded information. This is related to a social security fraud; that concerns the pharmacist, not RCT.

“I have a strong feeling that there is a will against Toulon and a person who is running for president of the FFR.”

Toulon’s current head coach, Bernard Laporte, is the man Boudjellal refers to here, with the ex-France boss set to make a strong bid to become the next president of France’s rugby union.

Boudjellal also took the opportunity to announce that New Zealand international Tom Taylor has signed for Toulon.

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    Mute philip ryan
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    Sep 8th 2015, 9:14 AM

    My local pharmacist needs to be investigated for doping if that’s the case! What a loss of crap!

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    Mute Range Rover P38
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    Sep 8th 2015, 9:26 AM

    There’s quite a movement against Toulon in sections of the western French rugby world. They really don’t like the Barbarians / Old Masters style of team.

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    Mute Dave Meagher
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    Sep 8th 2015, 9:39 AM

    Sounds like drugs being used to mask other drug or else a seriously woeful unprofessional setup.

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    Mute Elmer Homero
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    Sep 8th 2015, 11:28 AM

    The first elements shows that pharmacists in Toulon diverted drugs from their stocks, assigned them randomly to social security numbers from their customer base (including RCT players) for reimbursment from the healthcare and then sold the drugs to the black market.

    Looks like a scam and not organised doping. The idiots didn’t know that professional athlets prescriptions are under watch. (via Thomas Dauvel)

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    Mute RobsonKeane
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    Sep 8th 2015, 11:28 AM

    More vindication for Paul Kimmage.

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    Mute Michael Leahy
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    Sep 8th 2015, 1:20 PM

    he wrote 2 vague articles 6 months ago about drugs in french rugby then nothing but silence from him, a bit like David walsh becoming team sky’s biggest cheerleader. so can’t really see him being vindicated really

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    Mute James Meehan
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    Sep 8th 2015, 8:21 PM

    Somewhere in the world right now, Paul Kimmage is creaming his underpants…

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    Mute Liam Treacy
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    Sep 9th 2015, 7:02 AM

    Will the player(s) get a 4 year band and trophies awarded to teams they beat? Would if they were relay team.

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    Mute Joe Conway
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    Sep 9th 2015, 1:33 PM

    There are currently 47 people serving doping bans from the UK anti doping agency. 16 are rugby union players, 12 are rugby league players.

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