By Kotie Geldenhuys;
Photos courtesy Pixabay
In August 2023, reports emerged that Elton Jantjies, a member of the Springbok team who had won the 2019 Rugby World Cup, had been notified by the South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport (SAIDS) about a positive drug test result. The result emanated from a urine sample that was taken from him in June 2023, showing the presence of the banned substance Clenbuterol. Clenbuterol is used by bodybuilders to reduce weight and enhance muscle mass, as well as for alleviating breathing issues in asthma patients in certain regions. In his 2023 statement, Jantjies denied any deliberate consumption of the substance and expressed determination to establish his innocence. “At this stage, I can say little more about the matter, save that I assure all my supporters that I have not and never will deliberately take a banned substance, and that I will do everything in my power to prove my innocence,” he said. However, SAIDS insisted that Jantjies had not opted for a hearing before an impartial doping panel. Jantjies was informed about the potential penalties he was facing in December 2023 but failed to appeal within the stipulated timeframe. In January 2024, he was handed a four-year suspension, the maximum punishment for testing positive for Clenbuterol (Sebembe, 2024).
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[This is only an extract of an article that is published in Servamus: June 2024. This article is available for purchase.]