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Today's paper. Last Updated: 06/02/2012

3 Players Suspended At Cup for Drug Use

LONDON -- Three rugby league World Cup players have been kicked out of the competition after testing positive for drugs.


South Africa's Pierre Grobbelaar, Syd Eru of New Zealand and France's Stephane Millet were all suspended after failing tests carried out during the competition.


Grobbelaar and Millet were tested despite not yet playing in the event, while Eru, who had been named in the starting lineup against Papua New Guinea on Friday, was tested after the Kiwis' opening game against Tonga. Millet tested positive for cannabis, Eru for pseudoephe-drine, a stimulant and Grobbelaar for the anabolic steroid nandrolone.


"It is regrettable that these three players have failed their tests, but we are determined that rugby league throughout the world must be drug-free," World Cup tournament director Maurice Lindsay said Thursday.


French team manager Tas Baitieri said Millet was called up to the squad very late as replacement for an injured player.


"He had been at a party with friends on the Friday and thought he wasn't going to go the World Cup, but then he got the call-up the night before we left," Baitieri said.


"It's unfortunate he did what he did. It was out of character. We all know it's a social drug and is something he told me he has only taken on two occasions."


Meanwhile, on the field Western Samoa scored 10 tries as it crushed France 56-10 Thursday. The Samoans will now face Wales on Sunday for the semifinal berth from Group C.




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