Christian Loamanu

Christian Loamanu, who tested positive for cannabis five years ago, has had his indefinite ban for playing rugby in Japan lifted.

In 2009 Loamanu was sanctioned for an indefinite period by the Japanese Rugby Football Union after he tested positive for cannabis following a domestic Top League game.

Earlier in 2014 the Iinternational Rugby Players Association (IRPA) engaged the JRFU to conduct a review of the sanction and allow IRPA to present a case for Loamanu’s sanction to be lifted.

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Following a thorough and professional process conducted by the JRFU Loamanu is once again eligible to play for the Japan national side after more than five years of being unable to play international rugby.

IRPA’s Josh Blackie said: “We appreciate the effort and consideration by the JRFU in reviewing the sanction imposed on Christian. He has shown great character throughout this process by taking responsibility for a mistake he made as a young man, learning from it, and bouncing back in a positive way. ”

Loamanu said: “I would like to thank the JRFU for allowing me the opportunity to have my sanction reviewed and subsequently lifting the ban. As a young man I made an error of judgement where I let myself and a lot of others down who believed in me. Over the past five years I have learnt a lot and have a strong desire to play international rugby for Japan again.”