<
>

'No surprises' for Dan Carter as he is found not guilty of doping

Dan Carter FRANCK FIFE/AFP/Getty Images

Dan Carter has insisted he would "never do anything intentionally" to bring rugby into disrepute after he was found not guilty of doping by the French Rugby Federation.

New Zealand great Carter discussed the accusations on his Instagram account on Tuesday, and revealed that he was not surprised to have been cleared.

"No surprises that the FFR's ruling was that I'd done nothing wrong," he wrote.

"I hold my integrity and the game of rugby's integrity in the highest regard. I love this game and owe so much to rugby that I would never do anything intentionally to bring it into disrepute."

A statement released by Racing read: "The medical commission of the FFR has duly dispelled any doubts over-shadowing the medical practices of the club.

"As we have always stated, neither the players nor their doctor committed the slightest violation of the rules or the slightest ethical breach."

Despite his obvious frustrations, the three-time World Player of the Year acknowledged the "authorities who work hard to ensure our game is played fairly".

Both Carter and his former All Blacks teammate Joe Rokocoko had maintained their innocence since French newspaper L'Equipe first reported "traces of corticosteroids" had been found in the duo's systems, and that of Argentine Juan Imhoff, following Racing 92's win in last season's Top 14 final.

The Parisian club released a statement soon after the L'Equipe report, saying "all medical procedures had been made clear" and that "Juan Imhoff, Joe Rokocoko and Dan Carter are exemplary of what we expect in terms of the behaviour, generosity and ethics of our time".

Racing 92 are next in action away to Leicester Tigers in the European Champions Cup on Sunday.