By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Former Springbok flyhalf Elton Jantjies has been handed a four-year ban after testing positive for the banned substance Clenbuterol.
Janjies (33) tested positive for substance in a sample provided to South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport (SAIDS) in June 2023.
Clenbuterol is a fat-burning and asthma medication that also enhances stamina.
Janjies said that he was innocent in a statement released in August.
The statement said: “It with no small amount of shock and sadness that I have to inform you that I received notification earlier this month, from the South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport, that a urine sample that I had provided to them in June 2023, returned a positive test for a banned substance, Clenbuterol.”
“I have instructed legal representation to assist me in determining the source of the prohibited substance and I have instructed them to ask for my B Sample to be tested and to launch an inquiry into the possible causes for the positive test.”
“I will do everything in my power to prove my innocence.”
The SA Institute of Drug Free Sport released the findings on Thursday on their website where they confirmed that Jantjies had been found guilty of using Clenbuterol after a random drug test taken on 20 June 2023. Clenbuterol is a substance best known for helping weight loss, which bodybuilders often use to cut weight and increase muscle mass.
SAIDS said on their website that the player had not requested a hearing, as normally happens when a player wants to dispute a test result and that the window had passed for an appeal to be lodged.
“A written decision was issued in terms of Article 8.3 of the SAIDS Anti-Doping Rules 2021 because the Athlete did not exercise his/her right to have their case heard before an Independent Doping Hearing Panel (IDHP), “SAIDS said on its website.
A World Cup winner, the 46-Test Jantjies has been a fixture in Bok squads for the past six years, and was called up for the Rugby Championship as injury cover, but was released before head coach Jacques Nienaber announced the 33-man contingent to defend the Webb Ellis Cup at the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
The seasoned playmaker is no stranger to controversy, after he was sent home while the Boks were in Argentina to face Los Pumas in 2022 following headline coverage of an alleged affair with team dietician Zeenat Simjee.
Former Springbok wing Aphiwe Dyantyi has recently returned to professional rugby following a four-year ban after he failed a drugs test in December 2019. He has signed for the Durban-based Sharks.