French Rugby Federation grapples with concerns over rising cocaine use

By Priscilla Jepchumba

Bordeaux Bègles and Racing 92, two notable Top 14 clubs, have announced that they will conduct random doping tests on their players due to a worrying increase in cocaine use in French rugby.

The decision comes after Béatrice Bourgeois, president of the French Anti-Doping Agency, sharply criticised it and is linked to the controversy surrounding the French summer tour to Argentina, where a serious doping problem was identified.

Cocaine appears to have become a significant problem in the world of rugby. In 2022, James Maloney, a former Australian rugby player, tested positive for cocaine in a doping test at French club Lezignan following a match against Carcassone in the Elite One Championship.

Maloney is not the only player to test positive. In 2023, Oscar Jegou, a French under-20 rugby player who plays as a back-row for club La Rochelle, was banned for one month by the French Anti-Doping Agency (AFLD) after testing positive for cocaine.

Jegou escaped a potential four-year ban because he was found to be using cocaine only for recreational purposes; he had used cocaine at a housewarming party just two days before the game at which he was tested.

Bordeaux president Laurent Marti also addressed the growing cocaine problem in French rugby, announcing that his players would be subjected to random doping tests in the future and stressing that his players were now “under observation”.

The summer has brought several scandals to French rugby. Last year the team seemed to be on the right track before the World Cup, but now, just 12 months later, it has been thrust into the spotlight for negative reasons.

Toulon full-back Melvyn Jaminet was banned for 34 weeks and fined €30,000 after a racist video was posted on his Instagram page. His teammates Hugo Auradou and Oscar Jegou, who was previously banned for cocaine use, were also accused of rape, although they deny the allegations.

It is clear that these cases are no longer isolated but are becoming more and more common in this sport. Although the French Rugby Federation (FFR) carries out anti-doping controls after matches, there are no controls during training sessions during the week.

This loophole provides an opportunity for those who wish to consume illegal substances. It is important to know that cocaine is illegal in France, as is its distribution. Despite this, users still manage to obtain it.