- Kenya deputy president ousted in historic impeachment
- Israel military says Sinwar killed in firefight while tracked by drone
- One Direction members 'devastated' by Liam Payne's death
- Norris shrugs off Red Bull 'trick' of the trade at US Grand Prix
- Global stocks climb as ECB cuts rates and tech rebounds
- Chelsea, Lyon ease to wins in Women's Champions League
- China expected to post slowing growth as economic woes drag
- Yamasaki brings keirin world title home as Japan takes two track golds
- Netflix adds millions of subscribers but growth slows
- 'Deeply misguided' to wall US off with tariffs: Yellen
- Biden farewell visit to Berlin focused on Ukraine, Mideast wars
- EU leaders urge new laws to speed up migrant returns
- Sinwar killing a blow to Hamas but impact on war uncertain
- Mitzi Gaynor, star of 'South Pacific,' dies aged 93
- Trump says Zelensky 'should never have let' Ukraine war start
- Harris woos undecided voters as Trump riles critics over Ukraine
- Hayes turns focus to US women's World Cup goal
- Zelensky seeks EU, NATO backing for 'victory plan'
- Bosch stuns Australia as South Africa reach Women's T20 World Cup final
- What we know about One Direction star Liam Payne's death
- Nicotine pouches rise in popularity as US youth tobacco use hits 25-year-low
- Mendis clinches Sri Lanka series win over West Indies
- Israel says killed Hamas chief Sinwar in Gaza
- Panel urges Secret Service shake-up after Trump assassination bid
- Trump, Harris back on friendly ground after tough interrogations
- Pressure on Ten Hag is 'too much': Brentford boss Frank
- Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar: Israel's most wanted man
- ECB bans transgender women from women's professional cricket
- Monaco aiming to last in Ligue 1 title fight with PSG
- Kenya deputy president impeachment trial in chaos after he falls ill
- English coaches 'capable' of managing national team, says Southampton boss
- Wales scrum-half Gareth Davies retires from international rugby
- Real Madrid fans dismiss 'fake' Mbappe rape reports
- IMF chief calls for unity on shared challenges in 'deeply troubled times'
- Australia post 134-5 in semi-final of women's T20 World Cup
- Tech giants go nuclear in AI arms race
- 1,100 mpox deaths recorded across Africa: CDC
- UK's National Gallery bans liquids after activist art attacks
- Onboard wifi is latest frontline in airline competition
- Instagram moves to face rising tide of sextortion scams
- Tributes to One Direction's Liam Payne after hotel balcony fall
- Bangladesh court issues arrest warrant for ex-leader Hasina
- Israel says 'checking' if Hamas chief Sinwar killed in Gaza
- Victims of Vietnam tycoon's record scam count losses after sentence
- EU leaders talk tough on migration, but divided on action
- Global stocks climb as ECB cut rates and tech rebounds
- Biden heads to Germany to discuss Ukraine, Middle East
- US retail sales pick up pace in September
- Pakistan sense series-levelling win over England after Sajid heroics
- Kenya deputy president falls ill during impeachment trial
CMSD | -0.52% | 25.02 | $ | |
SCS | 0.53% | 13.21 | $ | |
JRI | -0.15% | 13.15 | $ | |
BCC | -3.38% | 142.2 | $ | |
RIO | -1.32% | 65.09 | $ | |
CMSC | -0.52% | 24.79 | $ | |
GSK | -0.64% | 38.96 | $ | |
NGG | -1.41% | 67.19 | $ | |
RBGPF | 1.67% | 60.5 | $ | |
AZN | -0.37% | 78.02 | $ | |
BCE | 0.03% | 33.49 | $ | |
RYCEF | 0.68% | 7.35 | $ | |
BTI | -1.22% | 35.37 | $ | |
RELX | 0.91% | 48.59 | $ | |
VOD | -1.23% | 9.73 | $ | |
BP | 1.25% | 31.32 | $ |
Ex-Wales scrum-half Webb to appeal four-year doping ban
Former Wales scrum-half Rhys Webb said on Wednesday he will appeal a four-year ban from the French Anti-Doping Agency (AFLD) for taking a growth hormone substance.
Webb, 35, tested positive in July 2023 and was provisionally banned the following month having joined French second-tier club Biarritz earlier in the year.
The ex-Ospreys half-back is unable to train as a player, coach or work in an administrative role of a rugby team until June 21, 2027 -- when he will be 38 years old.
Webb's lawyer Dominique Laplagne said they had sought legal support from France's top administrative court.
"The sanction imposed on Rhys Webb is not final," Laplagne said in a statement posted on the player's Instagram page.
"We have immediately instructed a lawyer at the Conseil d'Etat (France's highest administrative court) to lodge an appeal to overturn the AFLD's decision.
"He has never undergone any other disciplinary procedure, of any kind, during his long career as a professional athlete and has never used any doping product, growth hormone in particular," the statement added.
Webb played three Tests for the British and Irish Lions in 2017 and had announced his international retirement in May last year.
Laplagne also queried the AFLD's "incompetencies" during the testing process, pointing to the sperate samples taken by the body.
"The variability of the results between the two analyses of bottles A and B, only 6 weeks apart, with a drop in blood GH (growth hormone) of 31 percent, whereas a maximum of 15 to 20 percent is tolerated in any human biological assay, calls into question the reliability of the analysis," Laplagne said in the statement.
"I ask that Rhys Webb's presumption of innocence be respected and we'll get the outcome he deserves," Laplagne added.
T.Ward--AMWN