World Cup Digest: Players at the World Cup will be tested as early as next week for the designer anabolic steroid tetrahydrogestrinone (THG), tournament officials said yesterday.
Rugby's anti-doping body said all samples taken during the remainder of the tournament would be tested for the newly-discovered drug, and some samples already taken may be re-tested.
"The test will be applied to all new samples collected and may extend to samples already collected as part of the RWC (Rugby World Cup) anti-doping programme," officials said in a statement.
The decision followed an announcement by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) that 30 IOC-accredited laboratories worldwide had been provided with details on how to detect the drug.
The Australian Sports Drug Agency has been appointed to test players at the World Cup at Sydney's IOC-accredited laboratory, which was used for the 2000 Olympics.
The discovery of THG has already struck at the heart of athletics, and anti-doping crusaders are already targeting other sports.
France team manager Jo Maso confirmed that World Cup officials had informed him that all samples taken during the tournament would be tested for THG.
"I even had to acknowledge their fax," he said. "I'm all in favour of the strictest and the most acute testing so everybody will have peace of mind and body."
World Cup organisers say more than half the players competing at the tournament were tested in the lead-up to the competition and at least two players from each of the 20 competing teams are randomly selected for testing after each game.
There have been no notified positive tests so far.
TEAM NEWS: Meanwhile, Italy captain Alessandro Troncon has been passed fit for tomorrow's pool D match against Wales, the most important match his country have played at a World Cup.
Italy have never qualified for the quarter-finals but, barring upsets, the winner of the match in Canberra will progress to the knock-out phase as pool D runners-up behind favourites New Zealand. Troncon's Italy struggled past Canada 19-14 on Tuesday to become the first Italian team to win two matches at a World Cup after they beat Tonga 36-12 last week.
But the win came at a cost. Winger Mirco Bergamasco suffered a broken cheekbone and lock Marco Bortolami a dislocated clavicle in a bruising match.
Scrumhalf Troncon was also in doubt after he was replaced at half-time with back and shoulder injuries, but he has convinced selectors he is fit for the match against Wales, who Italy beat in the Six Nations in February.
Italy coach John Kirwan, who has complained bitterly about having only four days to prepare for the match, has made four changes to the side that beat Canada. Experienced lock Carlo Checchinato, who is playing in his fourth World Cup, replaces Bortolami.
Lively Nicola Mazzucato returns to the right wing in Bergamasco's place after he was rested for the Canada game.
Wales, for their part, have made 10 changes, with coach Steve Hansen dropping his entire front row and all but two of his backs. An errant kicking display against Tonga appears to have cost outhalf Stephen Jones a place in the starting side.
ITALY: G Canale; N Mazzucato, C Stoica, A Masi, D Dallan; R Wakarua, A Troncon (capt); A Lo Cicero, C Festuccia, L Castrogiovanni, C Cecchinato, S Dellape, A de Rossi, A Persico, S Parisse.
WALES: K Morgan; M Jones, S Parker, I Harris, G Thomas; C Sweeney, D Peel; Duncan Jones, R McBryde, A Jones, B Cockbain, G Llewellyn, Dafydd Jones, M Williams, C Charvis (capt). Replacements: M Davies, Gethin Jenkins, R Sidoli, J Thomas, G Cooper, S Jones, R Williams.
