France prop Pieter De Villiers will not be punished for failing a dope test, the French Rugby Federation (FFR) announced today.
The decision was taken by the body's disciplinary committee which ruled the random test did not comply with French legal safeguards which say tests must be carried out under the auspices of the French Sports Ministry.
"Since no such request was made, no sanction can be pronounced with regard to the player Pieter De Villiers," read an FFR statement.
South Africa-born De Villiers, who tested positive for cocaine and ecstasy, has always denied knowingly taking banned substances.
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He suggested he may have unknowingly consumed the substances after a victory party with team-mates in December.
PA