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French age-grade star Oscar Jegou sanctioned for failed doping test
By Liam Heagney
France U20s World Cup winner Oscar Jegou has reportedly learned his fate after recently testing positive for cocaine following a Top 14 match for La Rochelle. It was last July when the back-rower helped his country to their latest age-grade success, beating Ireland 50-14 in the final in Cape Town.
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The 20-year-old, who made a 30-minute debut off the bench in the Top 14 last season, featured in La Rochelle’s opening three matches of this season and it was last month when he informed the club that he had failed the doping test he was given on August 20 after he started away at Montpellier.
Jegou was immediately suspended by the club and L’Equipe have now reported that his official sanction by the French Anti-Doping Agency (AFLD) is one month. Their online report read: “Oscar Jegou tested positive for cocaine and was officially suspended for one month by the AFLD. The La Rochelle back-row accepted his sanction.
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“As revealed on October 12 on our website, Oscar Jegou tested positive for cocaine following a test carried out on the evening of the first day of the Top 14.
“The back row, who started for Stade Rochelais in the defeat at Montpellier on August 20 (26-15), had played about an hour before being replaced. Summoned by the AFLD on October 16, the U20 world champion, suspended as a precautionary measure, regretted a youthful mistake’.
“According to our information, the AFLD has imposed a one-month suspension on Oscar Jegou (20 years old), who can therefore play again. As early as November 8, the back row had been notified that his suspension had been lifted on a provisional basis, pending the official decision. This is now the case. The back row will notify the AFLD that he accepts this sanction.
“The player faced a four-year ban for this type of offence but as soon as he was informed of his positive test, Jegou contacted a doctor to follow a treatment programme and he also agreed to raise awareness with the French Rugby Federation.
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“As a result, his sentence was reduced to one month. Stade Rochelais has decided to support its player and not to break his contract, even if the Maritime club takes this concern of cocaine consumption very seriously.”
It was October 12 when La Rochelle issued a statement on Jegou. It read: “The directors of the Stade Rochelais confirm that they have been informed by a player of the club, Oscar Jegou, of his positive test for a banned substance (benzoylzcgoine – metabolite of cocaine), which he regrets having consumed in a festive and private setting outside the La Rochelle group.
“This information comes as a real shock to our club, which places the education and training of its young people at the heart of its priorities, but it also illustrates the rise of this social scourge.
“This confrontation with reality will lead to the strengthening of our internal prevention and control system to a maximum level, commensurate with this threat that is lurking particularly today around our youth.
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“Pending the outcome of the procedure initiated by the AFLD, and depending on its outcome, the club’s management is considering the decisions that will be taken in terms of sanctioning and supporting the player concerned, who has been suspended as a precautionary measure.”
