Banned Ex-Manu Samoa Captain Chris Vui Seeks Funds for Documentary on Doping Case

Former Manu Samoa rugby captain Chris Vui is launching a crowdfunding campaign to help finish a documentary detailing his fight to clear his name after a four-year doping ban imposed by World Rugby in 2023.

“

What happens when a world-class athlete, at the peak of his career, tests positive for steroids he's never heard of?

The documentary, titled "SPIKED," is being produced by Tusitala Films and aims to explore the "disastrous consequences for clean athletes involved in contamination in professional sports." The project is supported by the Creative Scotland Crowd-match Fund. The teaser questions, "What happens when a world-class athlete, at the peak of his career, tests positive for steroids he's never heard of?"

According to information on the GoFundMe page, Vui, a prominent figure in the English Premiership and former captain of the Samoan national team, tested positive for 19-norandrosterone, an indicator for nandrolone, in August 2023 before the Rugby World Cup. He was immediately suspended and removed from the competition. The low level of the substance detected, Vui alleges, is consistent with contamination.

“

At the height of his career, during the World Cup, he tested positive for steroids. The levels detected matched known contamination patterns, but the consequences were immediate and shattering.

Vui has consistently denied knowingly using any banned substance, stating he is "devastated" that the ban, upheld by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in July, remains in place. In a statement following the appeal's rejection, Vui expressed hope that his "experience contributes to a broader discussion within sport about the operation of anti-doping processes."

“

Devastated

He emphasized his commitment to his principles: "I want to make it clear I have never knowingly used, and would never knowingly use, a prohibited substance. It goes against everything I stand for as a person and as an athlete." Vui is one of several athletes featured in the documentary who claim positive tests resulted from inadvertent contamination or unintentional doping.

“

Over the past three years, since being provisionally suspended during the World Cup, I have been fighting to prove my innocence, so I am devastated by this outcome.