Cries of innocence, well-timed vanishing acts and blunt threats of legal action are just three of the tactics favoured by sporting institutions faced with doping accusations.
But French rugby giants Toulon have reacted in an altogether more up front way to the current investigations into alleged pharmaceutical improprieties which implicate the three-times European champions.
The club have produced t-shirts – yours for just 19.95 Euros from the official club store – bearing the brazen claim “Dope(e) au RCT” (“Doped at RCT”) – in a bid to show their disdain for the claims.
Parce qu'il n'y a pas de raison que seuls nos joueurs soient dopés, voici les T-shirts "Dopé" et "Dopée" au RCT ! pic.twitter.com/bKGnpLKfA5
— RCT - RC Toulon (@RCTofficiel) September 22, 2015
Injecting copious amounts of sarcasm, an advert on the club’s official website reads: “Because it is well-known that doping is an institution in Toulon, here are the T-shirts ’Doped at RCT!’
“For fans and players are on an equal footing in doping and can claim all together their love for doping!
“A nice snub to unsubstantiated doping allegations that have tarnished the image of our club lately.”
French prosecutors are currently investigation allegations that pharmacists in the southern French city could have been supplying the club with illegal substances.
But Toulon president Mourad Boudjellal has angrily denied the claims, implying some may be driven by vested interests in order to attempt to sully the name of the club.
READ NEXT: Toulon President channels his inner Lance Armstrong for jaw-dropping Twitter photo