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MARCOUSSIS, France - France coach Bernard Laporte said on Thursday his recent comments on anti-doping tests in New Zealand and England had been misinterpreted.
Laporte was quoted in Sunday's Journal du Dimanche saying: "There is regular medical monitoring in France. The player cannot dope himself. Well, he can but he will be caught.
"But what is happening in New Zealand or in England? You cannot be sure of anything. The only certainty you have is that there are dope tests in international games."
"But they are only on urine and you have to go further than that. The more you have an elite rugby, like in the Southern hemisphere, the more you are exposed to doping."
Laporte's reported remarks angered New Zealand rugby, whose deputy chief executive Steve Tew said on Tuesday: "We find (the comments) very disappointing.
"It doesn't reflect a very good understanding of the commitment that New Zealand in general, and rugby in particular, has made to a drug-free environment in this country."
But Laporte, who is set to become his country's Sports State Secretary after the World Cup, told reporters on Thursday that his comments were taken out of context.
"I know what happens in French rugby (regarding the fight against doping). For the rest, I just do not know. I do not know what happens in New Zealand, England or Australia.
"But I have never said I had doubts over the players from these countries. What I know is that rugby does a lot to fight against doping through the IRB (International Rugby Board) and Wada (World Anti-Doping Agency)," Laporte added.
Tew said New Zealand players were subjected to independent and random testing from an appointed government agency.
"Players can be visited anywhere and at any time and asked to give a urine sample, and that happens," he said.
The English Rugby Football Union's tournaments director Terry Burwell was quoted in Monday's Daily Mail saying: "We're confident we have a very robust, well-managed programme.
"We're the only Union to employ a full-time doping officer, which leaves no doubt as to how seriously we take it."
New Zealand are favourites to win this year's World Cup being hosted by France from September 7 to October 20. France have never won the World Cup but reached the final in 1987 and 1999.
- REUTERS
