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A total of 1,886 urine and 221 blood samples were collected overall across 63 countries from men’s and women’s sevens and 15s players with a significant proportion (77 per cent) of tests collected out of competition. Forty-seven per cent of samples (not including biological passport tests) were subjected to additional analysis for substances such as human growth hormone and erythropoiesis stimulating agents such as EPO. Haematological and steroidal biological profiling continued across the sport, with 280 additional blood passport samples collected. A comprehensive sample storage and re-analysis programme ensured an increased deterrence and the long-term capacity for the detection of historical doping.The programme also benefited from close co-operation with the World Anti-Doping Agency and national anti-doping organisations across the world, which ensured a co-ordinated and effective programme across the sport.In a year where rugby returned to the Olympic Games for the first time since 1924, World Rugby ensured that all participating players were subjected to a rigorous pre-Games programme. A total of 1,289 samples were collected across the pre-event period from January 2016 with 83 per cent of tests conducted out of Science and intelligence were the foundations of World Rugby’s anti-doping testing programme this year, with 2016 being the most advanced and targeted testing programme so far conducted in the sport. KEEP RUGBY CLEANABOVEEd Jenkins and Emily Scarratt were tournament anti-doping ambassadors at Rio 2016competition. On average, each player who made it to Rio was tested 2.3 times. The programme was fully supported by players and this was best evidenced by the appointment of Australia men’s captain Ed Jenkins and Great Britain women’s captain Emily Scarratt as tournament anti-doping ambassadors.To date six anti-doping rule violations have been concluded and reported from the overall 2016 programme, an increase in positive tests which reflects the benefits of a targeted, science-based approach to testing.Education and awareness was another focus of the programme with a new Keep Rugby Clean awareness film for players fronted by Sean Maloney released in June 2016. Face-to-face education was delivered to approximately 1,400 players at World Rugby and regional events, and more than 5,000 players and support staff completed World Rugby’s e-learning module to enhance their awareness of anti-doping issues. The Keep Rugby Clean brand remained an important tool in promoting the anti-doping message across rugby, particularly via social media, and Keep Rugby Clean awareness days were hosted at U20 and sevens events during the year. 2016 also saw an increasing adoption of the Keep Rugby Clean message at national level with several unions adopting the brand for their own national education and awareness programmes.World Rugby anti-doping cases in 2016Member UnionSubstance/ViolationSanctionNamibiaDehydrochlormethyltestosterone4 yearsRussiaStanozolol4 yearsNamibiaDehydrochlormethyltestosterone, metandienone4 yearsBrazilStanozolol4 yearsRussiaMeldoniumNo fault or negligenceRussiaMeldoniumNo fault or negligenceFive other cases pending72 WORLD RUGBY YEAR IN REVIEW 2016