Hawke's Bay Rugby CEO Jay Campbell says the union has initiated an employment process in the wake of damage to the Ranfurly Shield and a photo showing a mystery white powder on the iconic trophy.
The Ranfurly Shield – a taonga of regional rugby – was accidentally snapped in half after it was dropped on a concrete floor. The incident came to light after a video of the broken Log o' Wood was posted to social media.
A further image emerged showing an unidentified white powder on the shield.
On Breakfast this morning, Campbell said: "The investigation has come back and it's proved what we said all along, which we maintain, which is that the damage was caused by an accident.
"We've never tried to run away from the fact that we're disappointed with that."
Campbell wouldn't say whether players were drug tested as part of the investigation.
"That's an employment issue and that will remain confidential," he said, adding it will be dealt with internally.
"We'll be going through an employment process also here."
He wouldn't say how many players will be involved in the process or when a result could be expected.
"The testing on the shield itself was inconclusive, but the reports clearly state that the only substance they were able to find on it was plaster," Campbell said – but he wouldn't say whether he believed it was plaster.
"It's all speculation, we've just tried to state the facts the whole time."
He said the investigation is now closed as far as the union was concerned.
James Dwan, who has been repairing the Ranfurly Shield over the past eight years, has previously said it could be plaster.
Campbell said the iconic shield had been tested for "a number" of drugs.
"The investigation was thorough, it was an independent investigation that was run," he said.
"As we've said for a long time, there's a lot of people that weren't actually involved with the team there as well."
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