The French Anti-Doping Agency (AFLD) has imposed a one-month ban on Oscar Jegou, one of the mainstays of the La Rochelle team, after he tested positive for cocaine in an August test.

The suspension was officially confirmed on Tuesday evening and relates to an incident that occurred after Jegou’s team’s opening game of the Top 14 season.

Despite the possibility of a four-year ban, the AFLD categorized Jegou’s cocaine use as “recreational”, leading to the one-month sanction.

The alleged incident occurred during a housewarming party just two days before the game and was a setback for the 20-year-old, who recently celebrated winning the U20 World Cup with France.

As L’Equipe reports, the federation initially imposed a three-month ban, which was later reduced to one month after Jegou voluntarily underwent a treatment and education program.

Mathieu Giudicelli, general director of the players’ union, confirmed that Jegou was aware of the mistake and the impact it had on the young athlete.

“He [Jegou] is very affected by the situation, he is very aware that he made a mistake, he knows it,” Giudicelli said in an interview with Le Parisien.

The player’s proactive approach to addressing the problem and participating in a rehabilitation program played a key role in shortening his suspension.

The incident occurred after former Wales midfielder Rhys Webb was temporarily suspended for testing positive for a growth hormone. Webb, who has denied the allegations, is ineligible to play until the case is concluded, underlining the increasing scrutiny of anti-doping measures in the rugby world.

Jegou’s one-month sentence is a reminder of the serious consequences athletes face if they commit anti-doping rule violations, even in cases that are considered “recreational”.

The incident underscores the importance of education and rehabilitation programs for players to address these issues in professional sports.