2 Mar 2014

Rugby union to set up 'integrity unit'

6:12 pm on 2 March 2014

The New Zealand Rugby Union is to establish a dedicated integrity unit to combat corruption and doping in the sport.

Its general manager of professional rugby Neil Sorenson says the unit should be established within six months.

Reuters reports the government report last year found little high-level corruption in sport in New Zealand.

However, a former member of the national women's sevens squad, Lavinia Gould, was suspended for two years in November after testing positive for a banned stimulant.

Neil Sorenson says the union is also investigating reports of Super Rugby players mixing sleeping pills and energy drinks to get a high.

The problem surfaced during the New Zealand Rugby League team's world cup campaign last year.