RUGBY/SUBSTANCE ABUSE: The International Rugby Board (IRB) says it needs to investigate further before deciding whether to lift the suspension on Canada's Fred Asselin, who took a painkiller containing a banned substance.

Asselin, who was originally withdrawn from Canada's Commonwealth Games rugby sevens squad for taking the painkiller for a toothache, was hoping to have his ban lifted and join the squad in time for the competition's first games today.

But the IRB Anti-Doping Advisory Committee said in a statement yesterday that it "did not accept the result as communicated to it by Rugby Canada and has decided to refer the matter to an IRB Appeal Committee for further consideration.

"The IRB's Appeal Committee will consider the case prior to the commencement of the tournament," the statement said.

The sevens tournament begins today and Canada's first match is against the defending champions New Zealand.

England meet the Cook Islands in the first match of the tournament this afternoon.