A book by French investigative journalist Pierre Ballester, ‘Rugby à Charges, l’enquête choc’, has claimed that the French rugby team regularly took amphetamines ahead of key games for 15 years. Jacques Mombet, the national team’s doctor from 1975 to 1995, highlighted France’s famous 16-3 victory over New Zealand in 1986 as a particular game where the team took amphetamines.

It is understood that the book, due to be released next week, also hints at supplement use by current players. French weekly L’Express is publishing exclusive extracts from the book ahead of its release on 5 March. Ballester was a co-author of L.A. Confidentiel, a book that helped to expose cyclist Lance Armstrong’s doping.

“They each had their little pill in front of their plates for the meal before the pre-match meal”, Mombet is quoted as saying. Mombet also said that New Zealand made an official complaint to the International Rugby Board (IRB) after the game, as they had realised that the French team “were loaded”.

Before Therapeutic Use Exemptions (TUEs) were utilised under the World Anti-Doping Code – first implemented in 2003 – doctors were also able to prescribe ‘reasoned orders’ for players with medical conditions. Whilst heading the medical committee of the Fédération Française de Rugby (FFR) at a 22 November 1997 match against South Africa, Mombet said that he was handed reasoned orders relating to a dozen South African players.

Mombet also claimed that Ventolin (used to treat asthma) and steroid use have been common in rugby for many years. World Rugby (formerly the IRB) and the FFR have yet to comment on the allegations made in the book. Last week, a number of Australian rugby players were summoned to appear in court on drug charges.