World Rugby underscored its commitment to drug-free sport with a record programme of Keep Rugby Clean awareness and education in 2014.
Rugby’s governing body has long believed in the preventative power of education to back-up its targeted testing programmes and delivered mandatory education workshops to 3,377 players, coaches and staff through its Keep Rugby Clean programme in 2014.
A further 3,667 players completed World Rugby's Keep Rugby Clean e-learning module last year, after it was officially launched in June 2013.
The highlight of this year will be the flagship Rugby World Cup where a six-week global spotlight will provide the opportunity to reach out and educate new audiences while showcasing rugby’s commitment to maintaining and promoting a level playing field when the world’s best players participate in the tournament’s Keep Rugby Clean day on 26 September.
Players participating in the HSBC Sevens World Series and World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series (both Olympic qualification events), World Rugby U20 tournaments and World Rugby regional 15s, sevens and age-grade events will also undertake mandatory education, in co-operation with World Rugby regional associations.
An intelligent and comprehensive in and out of competition testing programme operated globally by World Rugby, national anti-doping organisations and various other stakeholders, supports World Rugby’s education strategy. Blood testing and biological passports are an integral part of a targeted testing programme that continues to be based on assessment of risk factors. The full testing figures will be announced shortly.
World Rugby Chairman Bernard Lapasset said: "Integrity and player welfare are at the top of World Rugby’s agenda and anti-doping education and testing is at the very heart of our strategy to maintain and promote a level playing field in the sport.
"As rugby continues to grow and thrive around the world, it is essential to educate all involved in the game that there are no short-cuts when it comes to playing sport at any level."
World Rugby Anti-Doping Manager for Testing and Education Ilaria Baudo added: "World Rugby is committed to anti-doping education and we take our role very seriously to ensure that players at all levels of the game understand the consequences of doping, and how to maintain a healthy and clean approach to sports nutrition.
"Our value-based education programme is highly interactive and is designed to engage and educate young players and their entourage at all levels of the game and we are delighted with the response that we receive from players and our unions alike."
For more information of World Rugby’s anti-doping programmes and to undertake Keep Rugby Clean education, visit www.keeprugbyclean.worldrugby.org
