France coach Laporte plays down doping controversy09.08.2007 15:00 SportsBy Mathieu Baratas MARCOUSSIS, France (Reuters) - 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." NO DOUBTS 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. Continued... Source: reuters.comwww.alllee.com |
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