Clermont’s entire rugby union squad were drug tested on Thursday morning before the French Top 14 side meet English club Leicester in the Heineken Cup quarter-finals on Saturday.

The mass testing was carried out before the morning training session with the club claiming that the tests were commissioned by the International Rugby Board (IRB).

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However, the IRB said that they were not involved in the testing and their jurisdiction only extends to international matches.

“We have to adapt,” said the club’s New Zealand coach Vern Cotter.

Captain Aurelien Rougerie was dismayed with the tests.

“It’s a bit annoying but not really bad. They arrived, the big brigade, four to test 40 guys. It’s irritating.”

Prop Thomas Domingo added: “There were already (tests) last weekend after the Brive match. Maybe they’ll leave us alone now. But we mustn’t let that bother us, we have something more important in two days.”

Last year’s Heineken Cup finalists Clermont host Leicester on Saturday at their Marcel-Michelin stadium where the club have won their last 74 matches.