Following Top 14 Final…
Traces of steroids were found in the urine of former All Black Dan Carter after he guided his French club, Racing Metro, to the Top 14 final in June.
French sports paper L’Equipe claims that Carter, along with fellow All-Black Joe Rokocoko and Argentinian winger Juan Imhoff all had abnormalities in their urine tests conducted by the French drug-testing agency following the final.
L’Equipe said that they tested positive for corticoids, which are generally used for treating inflammation or joint pain.
The newspaper alleges that, according to the information they received, the trio did not have a therapeutic use exemption (TUE) for the use of the banned substance.
However, Simon Porter, a manager from the Essentially Group that represents Carter and Rokocoko, has said that both players did have the correct documentation for receiving the substance.
“We have been aware of the issue for a few weeks,” Porter told The New Zealand Herald. “Our understanding and assurances we’ve had are all the documents around TUEs were in place.”
A TUE permits an athlete to use a prohibited substance or method if the substance or method is medically required.
To obtain one, the athlete must see a doctor who forwards their application to a specialist and then have it approved by a national TUE committee.
Carter kicked 15 points during Racing’s 29-21 win against Toulon in the Top 14 Final in June, helping his team to their first French title and earning himself the man of the match award in the process.
He joined Racing Metro following last year’s Rugby World Cup, replacing the departing Jonathan Sexton.
Rokocoko joined Racing from Bayonne following a stint with Clermont and he scored a fantastic solo try for the Paris side during the final.
