Cannabis popular in France?

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L'Equipe reports that after tests in the last quarter of 2006 ten French rugby players tested positive for the use of cannabis.

Pierre Bordry, the owner of 'Agence Française de Lutte contre le Dopage (the French agency of the war against doping) gave the results of tests on rugby players in the last quarter of 2006.

In these three months the Agency carried out 375 tests (against 475 in the whole of 2005). It found that 19 players had tested positive for banned substances. Of these nine had authorisation for therapeutic use. The ten remaining players tested positive for the use of cannabis., a substance forbidden in competition.

Of these 19 players, one was a professional, the other 18 in the amateur (Federale) leagues.

In addition a Top 14 player refused to be tested and so is presumed to be positive.

Christian Bagate, the chairman of the Medical Commission of the French Rugby Federation, was clearly upset by the news. He said: "I am astonished that these figures are made public when we do not yet have the conclusions of this report.

"I have also not been informed of any player refusing to take part in the testing."

He refused to comment further, citing medical secrecy.

Le Site reports that in September last year the French Rugby Federation warned three Top 14 clubs about the "excessive use" of therapeutic medicines.

Bagate said that there was a great increase in the use of such medicines, from 150 cases to 471.

Recently the big Fijian Sireli Naqelevuki tested positive for the use of cannabis during the IRB Sevens in George. The International Rugby Board is handling this case. In the meantime he is suspended.

Recently there was a report in the French press that an All Black had tested positive for the use of cannabis and possibly another banned substance in France in November. This was strongly denied by the All Blacks management.

Cannabis - which has names like hashish, marihuana, Mary Jane, weed, dagga, pot and grass - is banned by the International Rugfby Boa rd's regulations which are in line with those of the Olympic movement.

Cannabis is on the list of banned substances. To be on the list it had to fulfil two of three criteria:

1. performance enhancing;
2. contrary to the ethics of sport;
3. injurious to health.

In the case of cannabis 3. was certain and 1, was debatable for in some sports it was seen as performance enhancing because of the effect that it had on mood and nerves. Eventually there were enough votes to suggest that Marijuana is on the list of banned substances. To be on the list it had to fulfil two of three criteria:

1. performance enhancing;
2. contrary to the ethics of sport;
3. injurious to health.

In the case of marijuana 3. was certain and 1, was debatable for in some sports it was seen as performance enhancing because of the effect that it had on mood and nerves. Eventually there were enough votes to suggest that marijuana was objectionable on two, possibly three counts.

Every infringement of doping regulations carries with it a two-year suspension.

This is the basic sentence which may be reduced if it was found that it was ingested through no significant fault of the user and quashed entirely if it could be proved that it was ingested through no fault at all by the user.

Secondly there could be a reduction if the substance was found to be common in everyday life, for example ion ordinary medicines. Cannaboids fall into that category.

The reaction to those candidates for reduction of suspension depends on the tribunal conducting the hearing. The subsequent suspension could vary from a slap on the wrist to a year's suspension.
Marijuana is on the list of banned substances. To be on the list it had to fulfil two of three criteria:

1. performance enhancing;
2. contrary to the ethics of sport;
3. injurious to health.

In the case of marijuana 3. was certain and 1, was debatable for in some sports it was seen as performance enhancing because of the effect that it had on mood and nerves. Eventually there were enough votes to suggest that marijuana was objectionable on two, possibly three counts.

Every infringement of doping regulations carries with it a two-year suspension.

This is the basic sentence which may be reduced if it was found that it was ingested through no significant fault of the user and quashed entirely if it could be proved that it was ingested through no fault at all by the user.

Secondly there could be a reduction if the substance was found to be common in everyday life, for example ion ordinary medicines. Cannaboids fall into that category.

The reaction to those candidates for reduction of suspension depends on the tribunal conducting the hearing. The subsequent suspension could vary from a slap on the wrist to a year's suspension.

Cannabis was objectionable on two, possibly three counts.

Every infringement of doping regulations carries with it a two-year suspension.

This is the basic sentence which may be reduced if it was found that it was ingested through no significant fault of the user and quashed entirely if it could be proved that it was ingested through no fault at all by the user.

Secondly there could be a reduction if the substance was found to be common in everyday life, for example ion ordinary medicines. Cannaboids fall into that category.

The reaction to those candidates for reduction of suspension depends on the tribunal conducting the hearing. The subsequent suspension could vary from a slap on the wrist to a year's suspension.
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