Bodies like Chabal's and not a drug to be found at World Cup

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A total of 176 tests carried out after the 44 matches played to date were all negative, despite a tournament brimming with muscular torsos like Sebastien Chabal's.

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Body of evidence: the physiques of players like France's Sebastien Chabal have been a feature of this World Cup

For the first time, the International Rugby Board's anti- doping unit have been given the task of blood testing as well, and five players from each of the sides involved in the weekend's semi-finals have given samples.

All blood samples taken at the competition will be kept on file for analysis as part of the World Anti-Doping Agency's plan to develop a procedure to check for human growth hormone within the next year.

The clean bill of health comes as reassuring news for a sport which has been hit by two high-profile dope cases within the last 12 months.

Australia wing Wendell Sailor is serving a two-year ban after testing positive for cocaine last year and Fiji wing Rupeni Caucaunibuca missed the tournament because of a three-month suspension for cannabis.

Tim Ricketts, the IRB's anti-doping manager, said. "The programme at this World Cup has been the most extensive in the history of the competition.

"The tournament testing programme has comprised four tests from each match and an out-of-competition blood-testing programme, the first for a World Cup.

"The IRB believes it is one of the first international sports governing bodies to collect blood serum out of competition, which has seen five players from each of the semi-finalists tested over the past two days in their hotels."

The board say they have conducted 430 random, out-of-competition tests on players involved at the World Cup.

"We are on target to conduct a record number of anti-doping tests in 2007, with some 1,130 controls due to be completed before the end of the year," Ricketts said.

During the two-year period from 2004, the board suspended a total of 14 players after they tested positive for prohibited substances, which include recreational and performance-enhancing drugs.