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Former Wales star Rhys Webb facing career ending ban
Former Wales and British and Irish Lions star Rhys Webb is facing a potentially career-ending ban after reportedly returning a positive test for growth hormone following an unannounced screening conducted by the French Anti-Doping Agency (AFLD).
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L’Equipe report that the test is understood to have taken place during a training session in July. Webb could receive a four year ban if found guilty, which would end his rugby career.
This development marks the first time that an athlete has been implicated for using growth hormone in France since 2016, largely due to the difficulty in detecting the synthetic growth hormone within the narrow timeframe it is detectable in the body.
However, according to L’Equipe, a scientific breakthrough emerged in 2021 that harnessed an indirect marker (IGF1) to considerably extend the window of time for detection of the substance to about the span of a week.
“The implicated club is presently in a phase of anticipation, pending the course of the inquiry,” affirmed Jean-Baptiste Aldigé, the President at Biarritz Olympique said.
Formerly at the Ospreys, Webb embarked on a fresh chapter in his rugby career by enlisting with Biarritz this season, who compete in the Pro D2 league. The 34-year-old made a brilliant debut, notching up a try in their 35-18 victory over Colomiers in his first match for the club.
However, Webb was missing for their next match, failing to grace the line-up for the subsequent clash with Valence-Romans, as revelations regarding his positive test reached the club’s upper echelons earlier this week.
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In response to the unfolding situation, Jean-Baptiste Aldigé said: “We have indeed been apprised of these developments. The ongoing inquiry is being closely monitored by the club, which stands distanced from any implication.”
It’s been reported that Webb failed to disclose his use of the substance to the team doctor. Growth hormone is typically used to treat children with growth difficulties during childhood but it does have other therapeutic uses. However, the substance is commonly used by bodybuilders due to its profound anabolic effects.
Earlier today it was revealed that Springboks flyhalf Elton Jantjies is also facing a failed test.
Comments on RugbyPass
Let’s not forget about Ardie Savea just yet.
4 Go to commentsThe URC and the Euro Championscup can’t run at the same time, basically dilutes both competitions.
1 Go to comments“While Sotutu should start at No.8 for the All Blacks against England, but it’s only in that arena that he can prove just how good he really is.” And that my friends is where simply hasnt shone despite multiple opportunities. Even in this performance you can see what did him in in the test arena..he almost always still runs at the opposition almost ramrod upright making him easier to stop than it should be.
4 Go to commentsShould have been 0-0 and a message from SR CEO to both teams - “don’t worry about turning up next year”.
4 Go to commentsGreat work Owen Franks. A great of this team, scoring his first try for the Crusaders since 2010.He was beaming, justifiably. A fine win, he and the rest did the job up front.
1 Go to commentsDanny Care. Lang in die tand.
1 Go to commentsBig empty stadium does nothing for atmosphere but munster are playing well with solid performance
1 Go to commentsYes, Fiji can win the World Cup! With that belief plus their christian faith🙏 and hard work it is achievable. Great article. Ian Duncan Fiji resident 1981-84
2 Go to commentsInteresting comments about Touch. England’s hosting the Touch World Cup this year and the numbers have exploded since their last World Cup in 2019, something like 70% more teams and 40 nations taking part. And England Touch have made a big thing about how many universities are in their BUCS University Touch Championship as well as Sport England membership. Can only see this growing even more domestically as more people become aware of it
10 Go to comments“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
4 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
4 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
4 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
38 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
4 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
2 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
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