British national anti-doping authority UKAD could contact French prosecutors regarding doping allegations directed at French Champions Cup holders Toulon.
UKAD, which is running the anti-doping programme for the Rugby World Cup, wants to know if the investigation by Marseille prosecutors involves players who might be competing in the tournament which starts on September 18.
"We have sufficient and excellent links with Interpol, Europol and our police where we can start to ask them for that kind of information and expect some reciprocal exchange of information," UKAD chief executive Nicole Sapstead told the culture, media and sport select committee.
"If there was any player that we felt was pulled into that issue then we would certainly be looking into it. We certainly would be engaging with World Rugby to decide about a testing programme for sure, absolutely.
"They are doing a comprehensive programme not just of in-competition or post-competition testing, they are doing some very extensive pre-competition testing. When you live in the world that we do, that is where your risk window is. It is prior to a competition."
Toulon owner Mourad Boudjellal insists that the allegations made against the club are unfounded and do not affect any of the club's players.
Colm Hayes
