It is believed that an Irish international rugby player tested positive for a banned substance last season. The IRFU last night confirmed that it had received confidential notification from the UK Sports Council of a drug-testing procedure carried out under the auspices of the British body.
But until such time as the IRFU examined the contents of the Sports Council's message, it declined to make any statement on the matter.
The IRFU president, Mr Noel Murphy, confirmed that "we did get some information but I can't say any more than that at the present moment".
The UK Sports Council conducts all post-match drugs tests on players in international matches and European Cup matches held in Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales, as well as Irish inter-provincials held in Belfast.
The revelation comes on the heels of claims by former Irish lock forward Neil Francis in the Sunday Tribune that Irish international rugby players have been taking performance-enchancing drugs in the last 10 years. There have also been reports that two players from the four Home Unions had tested positive for the use of steroids last season.
According to a report in yesterday's London Times, two unnamed international players tested positive last season for anabolic steroids.
Under International Rugby Board rules, both players could face a two-year ban unless they are cleared by an independent tribunal.
Both the Scottish and Welsh Unions yesterday categorically stated that no members of their international squads had been found positive for use of steroids under tests conducted by the National Sports Council.
The IRFU would neither confirm or deny that Irish players had been found positive in tests conducted by the Sports Council.
