Prop refuses police drugs test
2003-02-24 22:32
Paris - Test prop Pieter de Villiers, dropped from France's Six Nations team after testing positive for cocaine and ecstasy, has refused to undergo further drugs tests ordered by police on the advice of his lawyer.
De Villiers turned down last week's police request arguing that his positive control for cocaine and ecstasy would eventually be found to be null and void.
The South African-born player was dropped from France's Six Nations team after testing positive for the two drugs in an out-of-competition test on December 18.
He is hoping to have the test thrown out as his lawyer Patricia Moyoersen believes there is no provision under French law to carry out random tests for cocaine and ecstasy unless the sport's national governing body had asked for such a control.
French prosecutors wanted to test De Villiers as part of their investigation into possible criminal drugs offences and not into performance enhancing drugs.
"This inquiry is based on the report of a null and void analysis," Moyoersen claimed on Monday, adding that she had advised her client to refuse demands for more tests.
When the French rugby federation's anti-doping commission examines De Villiers' case on March 5 Moyoersen expects them to abandon disciplinary moves against De Villiers.
The Stade Francais star denies willingly taking the drugs. - Sapa-AFP
- SAPA