Dublin.
The International Rugby Board has agreed to adhere to the World Anti-Doping Agency's code after a top-level meeting in Dublin, according to French rugby federation president Bernard Lapasset.
The sport's world ruling body also said it was leaning favourably towards a harmonisation of the international rugby calendar between the northern and southern hemispheres. The IRB is set to submit proposals in November 2004. "It is one of the issues worrying clubs who want to see harmonised competitions between northern and southern hemisphere teams, and between national and international competitions," said Lapasset.
"The Board's council hopes to be able to make some important decisions by April 2005."
The Board also agreed on the schedule for international tests from 2006 to 2012, agreeing on the principle of two consecutive Test matches for the major rugby-playing nations in the same country every two years - although that proposal could be modified when the newly harmonised calendar is adopted.
The IRB, which is also hoping for Sevens rugby to be accepted as an Olympic sport by 2012, agreed to admit each of the six regional federations - represented by FIRA, for Europe, CAR (Africa), FORU (Oceania), ARU (Asia), Nawira (North America) and CONSUR (South America) - as members of its council with full rights as of November 2004.
Lapasset explained: "These new admissions are an important step towards wider decision making and it is also a tentative step towards our Olympic aspirations."