France’s South African-born Test prop Pieter De Villiers has tested positive for cocaine and ecstasy, l’Equipe sports daily reported on Wednesday.
The 30-year-old Stade Francais player, capped 29 times by France, was tested out of competition in Paris last month. If he asks for a second test he would be eligible for France’s opening Six Nations Championship match against England at
Twickenham on February 15.
The French Rugby Federation has to report the case to the International Rugby Board who would name a committee to hear the offence within 14 days.
The IRB uses the International Olympic Committee list of banned substances. Cocaine and ecstasy are recreational drugs banned by the IOC as stimulants. Offenders face a three month ban.
However, French team manager Jo Maso said last month any player who used drugs would be banned for life.
”If a player is found guilty of doping he will be sent packing without further ado and banned from the French team for life,” Maso said last month.
A French federation representative confirmed a player had tested positive for drugs but could not identify him.
There was no immediate reaction from De Villiers who trained with the French preliminary Six Nations squad at their Marcoussis base south of Paris on Tuesday.
The French are due to name a final 22-strong squad for the key England game on Thursday.
De Villiers left South Africa after the 1995 World Cup without playing for the Springboks and made his Test debut for France against Wales in 1999. The loosehead prop was named in a World XV only last month and was set to be a key player for France in the Six Nations campaign and in the World Cup in Australia in October. – Sapa