A positive drug test for a banned painkiller was returned from the Rugby World Cup held in New Zealand earlier this year, the International Rugby Board (IRB) confirmed on Thursday (NZT).
IRB anti-doping manager Tim Ricketts did not name the player or his country, but said the result was returned after a match in the final round of pool play.
The player's team didn't progress through to the knockout stage of the six-week competition, which ended on October 23 when New Zealand beat France 8-7 in the final.
The player tested positive for a banned narcotic which is classified as a specified substance under the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) prohibited list.
Ricketts said the player and his union had been told of the result, and the player provisionally suspended pending the outcome of a hearing.
He said the IRB's "zero tolerance" towards doping in rugby had resulted in a comprehensive testing programme across the 20 teams at the Rugby World Cup before and during the tournament.
A total of 216 urine and 76 blood samples were collected during the tournament, topping the 212 tests collected at the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France.
The IRB will publish its full anti-doping results early next year.
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