England to press for testing

Press, 7 October 1987, Page 34

England to press for testing

NZPA-AFP London England will press for compulsory drug testing at the next rugby World Cup, wherever it is held. The Rugby Union, having set the lead in drugs testing, was disappointed that the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand last June made no provision for tests. "We have introduced random testing in the last year and, in view of the great concern expressed in all sports about the problem, would have expected the example to be followed more ■widely,” said the Rugby Union’s secretary, Dudley

Wood. Mr Wood, whose hope is that the 1991 World Cup final will be staged at Twickenham, said, “We believe that in such an international competition rugby should continue to show the way.” Dr Leon Walkden, the. Union’s doctor, revealed that all drug tests were negative during last winter’s Five Nations championship. Two players in each country were tested after each International, he said. “There is no evidence of rugby players using perform-ance-enhancing drugs in England. We are not complacent

but we are vigilant. It is a moral issue and we intend to maintain our vigilance to retain our happy position of being free of drugs.” Mr Wood said, "Dr Walkden was one of the first to issue a code of practice to reduce the possibility of A.I.D.S. being contracted by rugby players, and te an innovator in team-sports drugs testing.” “Accordingly, the Rugby Union has had many requests from other sporting bodies, including the Football Association, about how they should tackle the problem.”