IRB Agree Anti-Doping Code.

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.”