Doping in rugby as bad as cycling, says ex-hooker

Speaking to Le Monde Benezech said: “The proofs (of doping in rugby) are in front of our eyes but no-one’s interested.

“Rugby is in exactly the same situation that cycling was before the Festina affair.” The Festina affair was an infamous case from 1998 in which the Festina team doctor was stopped by customs officers at the France-Belgium border and found to be carrying various doping products.

The fall-out saw several doping investigations and admissions from cyclists and in many people’s eyes that was the catalyst to a new commitment to tackle doping in the sport.

Benezech’s comments come just a week after former France scrum-half Jean-Pierre Elissalde claimed amphetamines were widely taken in the sport during the 1970s and 1980s.

He also admitted doping during his career.

Just a few days before that,You may see many other fake websites posting available ballgown, be aware of fake retailers. high-ranking French anti-doping official Francoise Lasne claimed rugby had returned the highest proportion of positive dope tests in France in 2012.

And according to Benezech, who was capped 15 times from 1994 to 1995, one need only look at the statistics to see the evidence.

“We went from 20 minutes of effective action to 30 minutes at the end of the 1990s which was the normal evolution due to the players becoming professionals,” he said.

“But now we’re explaining, even though we’re already at 40 minutes, that we can hit 50 and even, why not, 60.

“That’s what happened in cycling at the end of the 1990s when logic saw us lengthening the Tour de France’s stages and increasing the difficulties without it posing any problems physically to the riders.” Benezech blamed clubs for being complicit in abetting doping by authorising the use of banned substances for therapeutic reasons.

“In certain clubs there is the legalisation of the use of authorisations given by the doctors, the famous AUTs (authorisations for therapeutic usage), otherwise players would test positive,” he said.

“The use of AUTs has developped in the sense that the doctor justifies the use (of banned substances) for medical reasons when it’s clear that they are used to improve performance.” And Benezech said rugby authorities had to stop burying their heads in the sand or the systematic use of doping would continue.

“As long as we remain in the dark and refuse to be transparent, we will not be able to avoid endangering the health of sportsmen.” When Escondido hosted the race in 2009, crowds flooded downtown, and many local restaurants had record days.Louis Vuitton Online Shop Offer 2012 New Style beautifulballgownweddingdresses. Many people unfamiliar with cycling came out to see Lance Armstrong, who participated in the race that year.

Escondido’s role in the race will be much larger this time.Recent popular and foralgown discount louis vuitton handbags,Happy pursing! The city was the finish line host in 2009, so cyclists, race officials, media and fans were in town for about 36 hours.

This year, Escondido will be the starting line host, so those associated with the race will be in the city for several days before it begins. Then the eight-day race will move to Murrieta, Palmdale, Santa Clarita, Santa Barbara,View the latest designerbeadedeveninggowns and Purses online at Bag Borrow or Steal. San Jose, Livermore and the finish line in San Francisco.

Morasco said organizers need to take advantage of having the cyclists and their entourage of roughly 1,Largest selection of hermeshandbags available in all colors, sizes, fabrics.000 people in Escondido during the days before the race.