The RFU's new soft drugs policy

Tuesday 13 April 2010
Published By: Ben Welch
Guinness Premiership > Bath

The Rugby Football Union have announced new proposals for dealing with the players use of recreational drugs.

The measures which have been agreed with the Rugby Players Association (RPA) and Premier Rugby, are largely being viewed as very soft and go way too easily on the players.

Players who are caught using recreational drugs are no longer required to disclose to the public what they have done and therefore are no longer accountable for their actions.

Players will be tested on non-match days, but if they are caught using drugs then it will not be acted upon unless they are caught again, giving players a green light to use whatever drugs they want until caught for the first time.

Speaking to the BBC an RPA spokesperson said: "We're already rolling out an education programme in conjunction with Premier Rugby which addresses drug abuse and alcohol misuse, which has gone to all 12 Premiership clubs, and we'll continue to be involved in the programme,"

"When the policy was taken to the RPA board, there was an overwhelming strength of feeling from players that they supported it wholeheartedly.

"They feel they want to be role models, and want to uphold the image of the game."

Matt Stevens, the former England and Bath prop, tested positive for cocaine following a Heineken Cup game in December 2008 and was subsequently banned for two years.

Had Stevens tested positive under the new rules he would simply have been fined £5,000 and his own club's officials would not even have been informed.  The matter would be kept between the player, the programmes medical director and the clubs medical officer.

Head of sports medicine at the RFU Dr Simon Kemp described how the measures were aimed at rehabilitating the player rather than punishing them.

"The focus of this is on the image of the game but also on rehabilitating. Wada doesn't rehabilitate. It's a sanctioning body looking to ensure a level playing field for performance."