New Zealand schoolboy rugby players to be tested for drugs
For the first time in New Zealand school sports history, players at this year’s National 1st XV semi-finals will be subject to anti-doping testing, reports Scotty Stevenson.
The New Zealand Secondary School Sports Council (NZSSSC) and Drug Free Sport NZ (DFSNZ) have advised school principals of their intention to carry out anti-doping testing at this year’s 1st XV national top four tournament – an unprecedented move in high school sport in New Zealand.
Yesterday, principals of the top rugby schools in the country were advised of the plan via an email from NZSSSC CEO Garry Carnachan. One spoken to yesterday said the plan poses “a consenting nightmare” given players are in some cases as young as 14 or 15.
In an accompanying letter from DFSNZ Chief Executive Graeme Steele, it is noted that players under 18 will have the ability to be accompanied by parents or other representatives during all elements of the test. But DFSNZ says it does not require consent to test athletes who are participating in any sport that is a signee to New Zealand Sport’s Anti-Doping Rules – and New Zealand Rugby is.
A spokesperson said that while it is the first time DFSNZ has tested in a secondary schools event, they can test any athlete of any age at any time and have in the past tested school-aged athletes.
It seems clear that there is a genuine worry that some high school rugby players in New Zealand could be taking banned substances, either due to a lack of education around “extensive and uncontrolled supplement use” or, worse, through the use of anabolic steroids.
The NZSSSC points to research from Otago University that says there is knowledge that anabolic steroid use is occurring in “comparable environments overseas, notably South Africa and the UK” and says DFSNZ has identified elements within the schools rugby environment which indicate “a significant potential for doping to occur.”
Steele adds in his letter that he is “hopeful our approach will receive the full support of the school community and all parents who see sport as a valuable tool for the development of their child.”
The NZSSSC says it supports an education approach, but also knows that as New Zealand Rugby is has committed to New Zealand Sport’s Anti-doping rules. If DFSNZ undertakes tests that return positive for banned substances, they will have to follow the New Zealand Sport Anti-Doping processes accordingly.
It is understood that that schools will all have to go through a ‘Good Clean Sports – Youth’ workshop before the national tournament, which is scheduled to take place in Palmerston North in September. This gives schools little more than a month to schedule the workshop, address the myriad issues around parental consent, and learn about the specific substances that will be tested for.
According to DFSNZ, those workshops have been available to schools since February and, remarkably, only five of the 24 schools still in contention for the national Top 4 tournament have taken up the chance to take part since that time. According to sources, one high profile rugby school said it wanted nothing to do with the workshop or the education programme around it.
The Top 4 testing plan, as outlined, will limit the range of substances being tested for, and will “focus on substances with long term health consequences for adolescents and limits the risk of inadvertent positive tests.” Only players from boys’ schools will be tested at the tournament, which also features co-ed and girls’ school teams.
This approach was championed by Carnachan in his email to principals, in which he says, “Given the potential for a player to test positive and the high stakes of doing so, NZSSSC has worked extensively with DFSNZ and NZR to ensure that the risk of such an outcome for those who are not setting out to break the rules is minimised.”
Comments on RugbyPass
RugbyPass writers are useless! you guys should get a real job because you all suck at writing about rugby!!!
8 Go to commentslooking forward to RWC2027 …. Boks on mission impossible for the Three-in-a-row, ABs to prove they being on par, France wishing to crown the “DuPont-era”, Ireland knocking on the Semi-Door ….. until then we’ll probably have to deal with Weird Ben’s fantasy-RWC23 (fun fact is, the drivel always creates a flooding of comments) …..
221 Go to commentsBen Smith you really make some good points in this article, the Springboks were not close to perfect and good still beat the All Blacks, imagine if they were as good as they were against France what a hiding the All Blacks would have gotten… maybe another Twickenham drubbing
221 Go to commentsIt is a good argument to keep the Rebels for one more year but also isnt this just opening the door as well for keeping them beyond 2025. If they can create some sort of financial stability in the next year and if their performances lift as they have this season then how would RA even cull them after that? It might be the most cost effective decision at this stage and perhaps many people are guilty of keeping relationships going because of the cost to decouple but then again when does that ever work out well?
17 Go to commentsDear Ben Smith you are a genius! God please become the next all blacks coach that can take on the mighty BOKS. Your rugby acumen is second to none - imagine your dads sperm bounced as unfortunately as that oval ball did….we would not be blessed with your presence. Just as the all blacks were missing a man you too are missing a chromosome for 80% of your life, so your insights are not only profound but ring true from your own experiences. Just as the TMO interfered with citing an illegal pass I am sure your local authorities interfere with your illegal passes you make on women - How dare they!!! God forbid that rugby be officiated fairly. You are the right man for the job. Next all blacks coach is here ladies and gentlemen Miss Ben Smith (He/She/They/IT)
221 Go to commentsHuge engine this guy and great to see him back ..The amount of clean outs he does at the ruck are ridiculous !!
3 Go to commentsThe level of desperation in this article is just embarrassing.
221 Go to commentsSome silly trolling in the comments.
9 Go to commentsEverywhere you turn some irish journo is advocating Ireland as the greatest, reasoning that the wc is a 4 year cycle event so, they say wc doesn’t matter it’s the rugby in between that should account for the accolade. If there was no wc then some substance could be gained, however in my opinion the moment that defined Ireland’s fate against the abs was 37 phases of repeated head bashing against a brick wall. If a change in strategy or a tinker with the game plan was executed then things could've been vastly different. And to point a finger the let down was in the hands of the number 10.
61 Go to commentsI have heard it asked if RA is essentially one of the part owners and I suppose therefor should be on the other side of these two parties. If they purchased the rebels and guaranteed them, and are responsible enough they incur Rebels penalties, where is this line drawn? Seems rough to have to pay a penalty for something were your involvement sees you on the side of the conned party, the creditors. If the Rebels directors themselves have given the club their money, 6mil worth right, why aren’t they also listed as sitting with RA and the Tax office? And the legal threat was either way, new Rebels or defunct, I can’t see how RA assume the threat was less likely enough to warrant comment about it in this article. Surely RA ignore that and only worry about whether they can defend it or not, which they have reported as being comfortable with. So in effect wouldn’t it be more accurate to say there is no further legal threat (or worry) in denying the deal. Unless the directors have reneged on that. > Returns of a Japanese team or even Argentinean side, the Jaguares, were said to be on the cards, as were the ideas of standing up brand new teams in Hawaii or even Los Angeles – crazy ideas that seemingly forgot the time zone issues often cited as a turn-off for viewers when the competition contained teams from South Africa. Those timezones are great for SR and are what will probably be needed to unlock its future (cant see it remaining without _atleast _help from Aus), day games here are night games on the West Coast of america, were potential viewers triple, win win. With one of the best and easiest ways to unlock that being to play games or a host a team there. Less good the further across Aus you get though. Jaguares wouldn’t be the same Jaguares, but I still would think it’s better having them than keeping the Rebels. The other options aren’t really realistic 25’ options, no. From reading this authors last article I think if the new board can get the investment they seem to be confident in, you keeping them simply for the amount of money they’ll be investing in the game. Then ditch them later if they’re not good enough without such a high budget. Use them to get Jaguares reintergration stronger, with more key players on board, and have success drive success.
17 Go to commentsYeah, and ours is waaay bigger than yours. Just as you's get a semi…oh hold on that never happens
61 Go to commentsLove watching
1 Go to commentsThe Melbourne Rebels lineout is a complete disaster so not surprisingly a kiwi coach of the Wallabies hires the worst lineout coach in the country and a foreigner to boot. No surprises whatsoever here…….
6 Go to commentsThank your for wasting 2 minutes of my life Daniel. There is a useful message in there somewhere but your delivery sucks.
8 Go to commentsBen Smith, you are cry baby
221 Go to commentsSux that homophobia is still a thing though. I wonder how many players who could have become legends never kept playing rugby because they felt unwelcome.
8 Go to commentsCrazy he’s only 28, feel like he’s been around forever - don’t mind the move, safe pair of hands and creates depth in a thin position for ABs. Hopefully aides Kemara’s growth also without thrusting too much responsibility on him
1 Go to commentsMen should show strength and be mean, but they should be able to show emotion to those close yo them in certain times, birth of your child, death of family, proud moment. This article is stupid
8 Go to commentsWhat a weak article…absolute drivel and clickbait, well done. Will stick to rugby365 thanks
8 Go to commentsHonest, discipline, humility… Priceless.
2 Go to comments