WORLD RUGBY HAS provisionally suspended two Russian rugby sevens players from all competition following notification of potential anti-doping rule violations.
Both suspensions are related to Meldonium (Mildronate), the substance Russian tennis star Maria Sharapova tested positive for at the Australian Open.
In an official statement, World Rugby confirmed that Alexey Mikhaltsov, a member of Russia’s national men’s rugby sevens squad, and Alena Mikhaltsov, who plays with Russia’s women’s team, have both been provisionally suspended.
“These suspensions are imposed in accordance with World Anti-Doping Agency compliant World Rugby Regulation 21,” reads World Rugby’s statement.
“Alexey Mikhaltsov, a member of the national men’s sevens squad, returned an adverse analytical finding following an out of competition test conducted by World Rugby and was suspended on 4 February, 2016.
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 today following recent media speculation.
“World Rugby will not be making any further comment until the completion of the process.”
It’s only a matter of time for rugby to be found out as one of the main stream doping sports. The next 12 months will tell alot.
There was an interesting part in DOC’s book where he spoke about a stimulant the team were given before the 2nd lions test in 2005:
“”In the build-up to the match they gave us a dietary supplement called Focus. For consumption you added a bit of water. It had the texture of paste and it tasted horrible but I never got such a buzz from anything in my life. There were no labels on the pot and they wouldn’t tell us what was in it.”
Why ?
Hear, Hear, Martin. The onus of proof is on those alleging wrong doing. If pointing to the fact that their is no evidence to support the idea that doping is widespread in rugby, it’s hard to know what else we can do as sensible people.
I’m not in a position of power and threatening people. I am saying that on the balance of all of the evidence, there’s little or none to suggest that doping is widespread in rugby. If you can show me actual counter-evidence to that I am very open to changing my opinion.
But I would like facts as opposed to anecdotes. Pro rugby players are frequently dope tested, at random. So far the only positive results I’ve heard of were at amateur or near amateur levels in Wales and now, surprise surprise, Russia.
It’s like saying Jonny Sexton has a concussion because it’s George Hook’s opinion that Jonny Sexton has a concussion, when Jonny and all of his doctors and coaches say he hasn’t. Let’s deal with the proof, and when counter-proofs come out, let’s take those seriously.
Concussion is a serious issue. Doping is a serious issue. But that doesn’t mean we have to invent it when it isn’t there.
@Rascal, spot on regarding the burden of proof. If doping is endemic in professional rugby then what are players taking and how are they getting away with it? Unless the evidence suggests otherwise I suspect doping isn’t widespread in rugby ( bar in a small number of cases….. ) Paul Kimmage got on his high horse about rugby a while back but there didnt appear to be any sustance to his claim/siggession….and he got a stern rebuke from Cian Healy.
I can’t wait to hear how this proves everyone in rugby is on drugs.
It does, it just does it just… does. ok?