French rugby star receives one-month suspension after testing positive for cocaine in August… as 20-year-old escapes four year punishment after governing body ruled his consumption was ‘recreational’

• A French rugby star has been given a one-month suspension in wake of the test 
• Third row Oscar Jegou, 20, submitted the positive drugs test back in August 
• The test was submitted after La Rochelle’s first match in the Top 14 season 

A French rugby star has received a one-month suspension from the sport after submitting a positive drugs test back in August. 

On Tuesday night, the French anti-doping agency (AFLD) confirmed that La Rochelle back row Oscar Jegou had been served the suspension after testing positive for cocaine. 

Jegou, 20, submitted the test after his side’s opening fixture in the Top 14 league in August – where they were defeated 26-15 by Montpellier. 

The youngster is already eligible to return to action having been suspended as a precautionary measure after submitting the test. 

As reported by French outlet RMC, Jegou was at risk of a four-year suspension but the AFLD ruled that his consumption of the drug was ‘recreational’. 

French rugby star Oscar Jegou, 20, received a one-month suspension after testing positive for cocaine back in August

Jegou submitted the test after his side’s opening fixture in the Top 14 league in August – where they were defeated 26-15 by Montpellier

Jegou – who won the U20s World Cup with France – pleaded ‘youthful error’ following the verdict and revealed that the alleged incident took place during a housewarming party two days before the match.

L’Equipe claim that the governing body had initially imposed a three-month sanction before reducing it to one.

The reason being that Jegou has started a treatment programme with a doctor and agreed to participate in an awareness programme for the French Rugby Federation. 

Speaking to Le Parisien, Mathieu Giudicelli, general director of the players’ union, said: ‘He [Jegou] is very affected by the situation, he is well aware that he made a mistake, he knows it’.

Jegou’s suspension comes just three months after former Wales scrum-half Rhys Webb has been provisionally suspended from playing in France by the country’s Anti-Doping Agency after recording a positive drugs test for a growth hormone.

Webb turned down the chance to go to the recent World Cup in favour of a club move to French second division side Biarritz earlier this summer.

Mail Sport confirmed that, in August, Webb received a letter from the French Anti-Doping Agency (AFLD) informing him his test from July 14 was positive.

It is understood his test only showed a very slight rise in hormone level above what is permitted and that Webb will contest the result. 

Source: Read Full Article