Rugby is now closing in on cycling at the top of the table for drug testing In Ireland.
Of the 1,112 doping tests taken in 2018, 179 were in cycling - that's just one more than rugby’s 178 tests.
That number is up from 113 in rugby the previous year.
Sport Ireland CEO John Treacy admits that rugby is now in the high-risk category.
"That graph will speak for itself in terms of where we see the risks," said Treacy.
"It’s a hugely physical sport. There’s a temptation there and I think, in fairness, the International Rugby Board are vigilant when it comes to testing.
"The IRFU are also at the forefront in terms of ensuring the players and the panels are tested on a regular basis, and they pay us for extra tests. That’s a good thing, to see that happening.”
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Sport Ireland believes education is paying off after only one positive test was recorded out of 1,112 tests undertaken last year.
Irish amateur boxer Evan Metcalfe, who tested for the cannabis derivate carboxy-THC, and already served his four-month ban.
"If we had three positive tests I'd be a lot more worried," said Treacy. "The education that we have done a lot more with is really paying dividends. It's really important.
“Basically, what we're trying to take out of the equation here is that nobody can claim that they don't know anything about anti-doping.
"That is paying dividends. You never know what to expect in any given year. You never know when you will get the phone call.
“That's what anti-doping is about. We can never become complacent in this space. We always need to be vigilant.
"Ireland needs to have a system that we can be proud of and one that other nations' athletes know that, if there is Irish athletes competing, then they are clean”.
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