The International Rugby Board has underscored its commitment to the promotion of drug-free Rugby with the appointment of Drug Free Sport New Zealand (DFSNZ) to deliver the Rugby World Cup 2011 Anti-Doping testing programme.

New Zealand’s Anti-Doping agency will be responsible for the execution of the sample collection and analysis programme that will operate across the 20 participating teams over the seven-week Tournament. 

A WADA Code signatory, DFSNZ will work in partnership with the IRB to supply qualified and experienced sample collection officers who will be responsible for the witnessing and processing of blood and urine samples collected throughout Rugby World Cup 2011. All samples collected will be sent for analysis at the WADA accredited laboratory in Sydney, Australia.

IRB Chairman Bernard Lapasset said: “The International Rugby Board and Rugby World Cup Limited is committed to a zero tolerance policy towards drug cheats in Rugby and the appointment of a globally renowned Anti-Doping agency to deliver the Rugby World Cup 2011 programme underscores this stance.”

“Drug Free Sport New Zealand and the IRB share the same values of integrity, discipline and respect and we will also be using Rugby World Cup 2011 as an educational platform for the global Rugby family. We are looking forward to working with DFSNZ on what will be a critical area of Tournament delivery.”

Details of the extensive Rugby World Cup testing programme will be announced shortly.

For DFSNZ the appointment represents an opportunity to provide a key service for the largest sporting event of 2011 and the largest event ever to be hosted in New Zealand.

DFSNZ Chief Executive Graeme Steel said: “Drug Free Sport New Zealand will work closely with the IRB and use its considerable experience of testing in the Rugby environment to make sure that the largest single event testing programme ever conducted in New Zealand runs smoothly and effectively.”

Praised by WADA for its comprehensive educational and testing programmes, the IRB in partnership with its 117 Member Unions operated a record testing and education programme in 2010.

The IRB undertook 1,288 tests across men’s and women’s Fifteens and Sevens competitions in addition to over 4,000 controls undertaken by IRB Member Unions and National Anti-Doping Agencies. Despite the rigorous testing programme, there were just five IRB Anti-Doping rule violations in 2010.

City.Mobi

Also in New Zealand today, City.Mobi is celebrating the success of its new guide to Wellington.

City.Mobi offers the most comprehensive mobile travel guides available, with over 800 cities in 200 countries listed. Each is developed by the City.Mobi team to combine into a single global travel directory.

However, each city retains its own mobile identity via a dedicated domain. Already on offer are Brussels.Mobi, Paris.Mobi, Sanfrancisco.Mobi and Sydney.Mobi.

Wellington.mobi is the latest in this illustrious line up, offering click to call functionality – which means no scribbling down telephone numbers.

Most entries are also linked to websites where users can quickly access more detailed information if needed.

Other key features include information on accommodation, restaurants, attractions, entertainment, nightlife, shopping, and transport.

City.Mobi guides include user reviews and traveller utilities such as a translation guide, currency converter, news and local weather guide.