Growing up I remember watching the genius of Christian Cullen and thinking I’d seen rugby perfection, and for many younger fans I imagine Dan Carter is similarly revered.

That’s why fans would have been particularly worried when Carter, along with former All Black winger Joe Rokocoko, gave drug tests which showed ‘anomalies’ before this year’s Top 14 final in June.

The story was reported by L’Equipe, the paper that reported on Lance Armstrong’s indiscretions years before the rest of the world caught on, but these claims appear to have less substance.

Here’s the BBC:

…the New Zealand pair’s manager says both had therapeutic use exemptions (TUEs) – giving them permission to take prescribed medicines.

Simon Porter [said] “We have been aware of the issue for a few weeks. Our understanding and assurances we’ve had are all the documents around TUEs were in place.”

Carter and Rokocoko played for Racing Metro against Toulon in the June final.

L’Equipe says all players were tested by France’s national anti-doping agency before the final and urine samples from the two revealed traces of corticosteroids.

The newspaper also names a third player. But Porter is quoted as saying the players were “relaxed” about the reports.

More from Porter on the Sydney Morning Herald:

“They were told they had nothing to worry about, that all of the exemptions and declarations were in order so the boys have been pretty relaxed about it,” Porter said.

“They’re not enjoying the attention that this brings but they’re pretty relaxed because they’ve been given the assurances that they’ve done nothing wrong.”

Looks like they’re in the clear on this one, although it’s never nice to have rumours such as these swirling around.

Aaron Smith on the other hand? Yeah, he could have a rough few weeks ahead of him (HERE).

[sources:bbc&smh]