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PARIS - French and South African players were subjected to drug tests on Monday evening, a first for the 2007 rugby World Cup, sources said.
The French players were blood tested on their return home from Sunday's quarter-final win over the All Blacks in Cardiff.
The International Rugby Board (IRB) had been hestitant before finally deciding to conduct doping tests during a World Cup.
In August the French anti-doping authorities turned their attention to the World Cup hosts, conducting controls on 18 of the squad's players after training.
World Cup managing director Mike Miller said last month before the tournament that rugby was leading the world in its anti-doping measures, however, he didn't provide any details.
"Now we have a full-time anti-doping department and comprehensive out of competition testing. Players can be tested anywhere and at any time," said the American, who is also IRB chief executive.
"We reserve the right to do blood testing. We don't like to give away too much in advance. We like to keep people on their toes. There could be blood testing but there will definitely be urine testing."
- AFP
