Two All Blacks in the 1990s took steroids to bulk up, according to claims in a new book.
Jack Ralston, the New Zealand Rugby Union's head of sales and marketing between 1997 and 1999, made the allegation in his yet-to-be-released biography, The Sports Insider, the Press reports.
"People might be stunned by this but I know at least two All Blacks in the 1990s who responded to demands that they bulk up by taking steroids,'' he wrote.
Ralston would not name the players, who he said had told him in confidence, telling Fairfax Media they were "smaller guys who needed to put on muscle and bulk who were under pressure''.
He said the players may now feel they can speak publicly about taking the performance enhancing substances.
Former All Black coach John Hart told the Press he had never heard of All Blacks taking steroids and former captain Taine Randell slammed the claim as "gutless''.
Ralston has also coached triathlete Hamish Carter, worked for Netball New Zealand and with Arthur Lydiard.
He has also worked for Nike, alongside international stars including Tiger Woods, Michael Jordan and Carl Lewis.
- nzherald.co.nz
