Rugby Union Star Rhys Webb Slapped with Four-Year Doping Ban
In a shocking turn of events, former Wales scrum-half Rhys Webb has been hit with a four-year ban by the French Anti-Doping Agency. The suspension comes shortly after Webb’s move to second-tier French club Biarritz last summer, where he tested positive for human growth hormone (HGH) during a training session.
Both the A and B samples returned positive results, leading to Webb’s immediate suspension. The lengthy ban means the 34-year-old will be ineligible to play until 2027, effectively ending his professional rugby career at the age of 38.
Webb, who won 40 caps for the Wales national team, had announced his international retirement in the lead-up to the 2023 Rugby World Cup. His distinguished club career included 154 appearances for the Ospreys and a stint with French giants Toulon, where he became the highest-profile victim of the Welsh Rugby Union’s previous 60-cap rule.
“This latest development is a significant blow to Webb’s illustrious career and the broader rugby union community. The four-year ban serves as a stark reminder of the importance of maintaining the integrity of the sport through strict anti-doping measures.”
After leaving Toulon, Webb rejoined the Ospreys in 2019 and went on to surpass 200 appearances for the Welsh region. He made his international debut in 2012 and was even selected for the 2017 British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand, where he featured in two Test matches.
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