The Olympic dream of high-profile San Francisco 49er Jarryd Hayne remained alive yesterday after World rugby said he will not be barred from playing rugby sevens over drug testing rules.
Hayne, a former Australian rugby league player, announced Sunday he was abandoning playing NFL with the 49ers to pursue a spot on Fiji’s sevens squad for this year’s Rio Games.
But his decision came under scrutiny from former head of the Australian sports Anti-Doping Authority Richard Ings, who said he may not be eligible.
He suggested that Hayne had not been part of a World Anti-Doping Authority recognised testing programme for six months prior to the August olympics, and that could pose a problem.But rugby union’s world governing body issued a statement to clarify that there was no impediment to him switching sports and playing in this weekend’s FINAl 2016 Sevens World Series London leg which begins at Twickenham on Saturday.
It said its drug testing policy did not “require a player to be included in a testing pool for a defined period of time prior to selection if they are being selected for international competition for the first time”.
“This position is entirely consistent with World rugby’s approach to other cross-over athletes, including other ex-NFL athletes coming into rugby,” it said.
“Therefore, Hayne would be eligible for the London round of the World rugby Sevens Series subject to all other regulatory and registration matters being met.
“He would also be immediately included in World rugby’s pre-Rio 2016 risk-based testing programme, which since January 2016 has included a comprehensive programme of targeted in and out of competition blood and urine testing on players likely to compete in Rio.”
Hayne generated intense interest last year after forcing his way on to the San Francisco 49ers roster after walking away from a lucrative rugby league career in his native Australia. But the 28-year-old enjoyed only flashes of success during a difficult first season where his appearances were limited.
In a statement released through the 49ers on Sunday, Hayne revealed he had been approached by Fiji sevens officials with a view to playing in this summer’s olympics, where rugby is returning to the Games after a 92-year absence.

Cult star Goromaru set for Toulon move: reports
Japanese World Cup star Ayumu Goromaru is expected to join French side Toulon next season, reports said yesterday, following a low-key stint with the Queensland Reds.
The fullback, who is known for his distinctive goal-kicking stance and has a huge following in Japan, will likely play in the French Top 14 from August, the sports Nippon tabloid said in its online edition.
Japan’s Kyodo News said the 30-year-old has already reached a basic agreement and a FINAl deal could be announced this month with the three-time European champions. Goromaru’s parent club Yamaha Jubilo was not immediately available for comment. The Reds denied earlier reports in February that he was set to move to Toulon.
Goromaru shot to stardom after he kicked 24 points in the Brave Blossoms’ 34-32 stunning upset win over South Africa at the World Cup last year.
Some media reports rated him as the world’s best paid player after he snubbed Japan’s new Sunwolves team to join Super rugby rivals the Reds this season.
But Goromaru has struggled for game time and made only his second start in Saturday’s 29-14 loss to the Hurricanes, landing three penalties. Such is Goromaru’s profile in Japan that he had a life-sized bronze statue and had a baby giraffe named after him, as well as being given the title “Master of Ninjas”.
Fans have also flocked to a three metre high (9 feet) Buddhist statue in Gifu
Prefecture because its clasped hands look like those of their hero when he lines up kicks.