Carter 'cleared' of doping

Carter "has been cleared and was notified on Saturday", following an investigation by the medical commission of the French Rugby Federation, the newspaper said.

Carter along with fellow former All Black Joe Rokococo and Argentinian wing Juan Imhoff were questioned by the commission last week after testing positive for corticosteroids following last season's Top 14 Final in which Racing beat Toulon 29-21. Carter and Kokoromiko contributing 20 points between them.

L'Equipe said that Rokococo and Imhoff "will probably have been informed of the same outcome".

However, Racing said Monday neither the players nor the club had been informed of any decision as yet.

The commission ruling is subject to appeal by the players or the French anti-doping agency AFLD which ordered the original tests in which traces were found of corticosteroids, which can be used against pain, inflammation or allergies.

The substance is illegal when taken orally or injected in either the blood or muscle, unless accompanied by a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE).

Racing has denied all wrongdoing, saying the substance was administered by an "authorised method" several days before the Top 14 final and there was no need for a TUE.

Agence France-Presse