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New Zealand's top drug-testing administrator has "no idea" where French coach Bernard Laporte is coming from with his insinuations about this country's testing protocols.
Laporte, in an interview with France's Journal du Dimanche newspaper, said that while there was "regular medical monitoring in France ... what is happening in New Zealand or England? You cannot be sure of anything. The more elite rugby there is, as in the Southern Hemisphere, the more people are exposed to doping."
And he suggested testing needed to go beyond urine.
Drug Free Sport New Zealand executive director Graeme Steel yesterday defended the testing programme.
"I've no idea where he's coming from, other than some kind of kite-flying exercise," Steel said.
"Our programme is as robust as any in the world, and more so than most in my view. It's certainly been much more public and open than the French one has been up until the last year or two."
French testing was overseen by the Government until recently, when it transferred to an independent agency.
Steel called Laporte's remarks "weird and ill-informed".
He said 20 to 25 per cent of all New Zealand tests were done on rugby players.
Last year 1599 tests were done, with 333 on rugby - 150 more than the next most-tested sport, league.
Steel said all All Blacks going to the World Cup this month would have been tested at least once this year, and more than that if their number came up after an international.
And it's not over yet either.
"We'll be testing them right through [until departure]," he said. "Sooner or later we'll be turning up at training camps, knocking on doors and a high proportion will be tested in that period."
New Zealand Rugby Union deputy chief executive Steve Tew yesterday said Laporte's comment did not reflect a good understanding of New Zealand's commitment to a drug-free environment.
On the form of testing carried out, Tew said professional opinion was that blood tests were not needed, as blood doping related mainly to endurance sports, such as cycling.
"It's something that will be constantly reviewed, but we don't think at this stage that it's necessary."
England's union said it operated a robust programme of testing in and out of competition and it was the only union to have its own fulltime anti-doping officer.
