Rugby: Furore over French drugs claim

PARIS - Autocratic French Rugby Federation president Bernard Lapasset has called for former French coach Pierre Berbizier to prove his claims of rampant drug-taking in the sport.

Berbizier, a former French halfback and captain who played in the first World Cup final, against the All Blacks in 1987, claimed in yesterday's issue of L'Equipe magazine that drugtaking was rife. Rugby authorities, he said, were doing nothing to combat it, but were the cause in some cases because they imposed such a hectic schedule on players.

Berbizier had also laid into the French rugby authorities over hiding the extent of their problems by launching blistering accusations at the Southern Hemisphere countries.

"Drugs have become a reality in the championship," Berbizier said. "The drugs players take nowadays are stronger than just creatine [a muscle-building nutritional supplement allowed in most countries but illegal in France] because the players have to put up with such an infernal fixture schedule and the physical demands are too much.

"We deploy an ostrich-like policy in which we point the finger at the Southern Hemisphere when what we should be doing is cleaning up in front of our own door."

Berbizier's comments drew a furious reaction from French rugby legend Serge Blanco, now president of the French National League and a team-mate of Berbiziers, while Lapasset called for evidence.

"I hope that Berbizier stands up and comes forward with his evidence rather than leaving it as it is, which are his allegations in the magazine," he said.

He also echoed Blanco's query about why Berbizier had not come forward before when he was coach of Narbonne, who he quit in December after a series of poor results left them struggling against relegation.

"I would have preferred it if Berbizier had rung me or Serge Blanco to tell us of his concerns," Lapasset said.

Blanco attacked his former team-mate's suggestions.

"These claims are scandalous. We were the first, along with cycling, to impose drug-testing without waiting for the sports minister or the French Rugby Federation to tell us to act.

"I have never said there are no drugs in the sport and the day somebody fails a test he will pay for it severely."

The fault in the seemingly endless season was not with him but with the European and world authorities.

"We have always called for a clear break between the seasons, but until the European and world authorities wake up to the need for this there will be no resolution of the problem," he said.

French team manager and former international Jo Maso is on record as saying he would quit his post should the French rugby team ever be permitted to take creatine.

- AGENCIES