Dan Carter and Joe Rokocoko drugs tests showed 'anomalies' prior to Top 14 final
The pair's manager claims both players were given TUEs for the drug
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Your support makes all the difference.Former All Black Dan Carter provided drug test samples which showed ‘anomalies’ prior to last season’s Top 14 final, according to reports in France.
L’Equipe says all the players involved in Racing Metro 92’s 29-19 win over Toulon, where Carter scored 15 points and was named man of the match, were tested by France’s anti-doping agency.
Carter’s former New Zealand teammate Joe Rokocoko, who scored Racing’s only try in June’s final, is also alleged to have had abnormalities in his sample with both players’ urine showing traces of corticosteroids.
However, the pair’s manager has dismissed anything sinister behind the reports by insisting both players had therapeutic use exemptions (TUEs), giving them permission to use the banned steroid.
"We have been aware of the issue for a few weeks. Our understanding and assurances we've had are all the documents around TUEs were in place,” Simon Porter told the New Zealand Herald.
Porter also said the two players were “relaxed” about the reports, despite L’Equipe suggesting they did not have permission to take the drug.
Argentina full-back Juan Imhoff is the third player alleged to have tested positive for the steroid during the surprise test the night before the final – Racing’s first Top 14 title since 1990.
Corticosteroids are used to treat inflammation and all three players were returning from injury before the final.
New Zealand Rugby Players’ Association boss Rob Nichol said his organisation was aware of the issue and were also of the view that both former All Blacks had been given TUEs.
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