All Blacks Star Suspended Following Positive Drugs Test

All Blacks lock Patrick Tuipulotu has been suspended following a positive drugs test, New Zealand Rugby has revealed.

The Auckland Blues star has not been seen on the pitch since November, after returning home early from the Northern Hemisphere tour, amid what was described at the time as an “ongoing personal matter”.

Tuipulotu toured the Northern Hemisphere with the All Blacks last November, starting against Ireland in Chicago and then against Italy in Rome.

New Zealand Rugby (NZR) and the New Zealand Rugby Players Association (NZRPA) have now confirmed they were notified of a positive test in November and the 24-year-old Tuipulotu was “shocked” by the result.

“A doping control sample provided by Patrick Tuipulotu had, reportedly, revealed the presence of a specified substance listed on the World Anti-Doping Agency’s 2016 prohibited list,” the joint statement read.

“NZR and NZRPA can confirm that Patrick was shocked by the test result and is working hard to identify the source of the specified substance.

“In accordance with World Rugby Anti-Doping regulations, Patrick remains provisionally suspended pending resolution of this matter.”