By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
@GalloImages.
Springboks prop Asenathi Ntlabakanye has been banned following a doping offence and is set to miss the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
Ntlabakanye was banned for 18 months from sport for his doping offence, effective from May.
The Player, SAIDS, World Rugby and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) have 21 days within which to file an appeal against the sanction to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
The ban will expire on 13 November 2027.
In a statement on Thursday, SAIDS said the player’s urine sample tested positive for the Hormone and Metabolic Modulator, Anastrozole, during an out-of-competition test on 22 May 2025.
“In terms of the South African Anti-Doping Rules, this substance is classified as a ‘specified substance’ and does not warrant a mandatory suspension,” the statement said.
“The player also self-declared the use of a prohibited anabolic steroid, DHEA. On 9 September 2025, he was formally charged for the presence and use of Anastrozole and the use of DHEA.”
The Lions, Ntlabakanye’s team, responded swiftly with a statement of their own in the wake of the 18-month ban.
“The Lions Rugby Company confirms that it has received communication from the South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport, regarding the decision to sanction Lions prop Asenathi Ntlabakanye for a period of 18 months following an anti-doping rule violation,” the Lions’ statement said.
“The Lions Rugby Company, together with MyPlayers, the Rugby Players’ Organisation, will deliberate on the appropriate next steps.
Ntlabakanye has remained an integral member of the Lions’ campaigns in Europe, the URC and Challenge Cup.
South African Rugby Union, on August 24 last year, announced that Ntlabakanye provided an “adverse analytical finding’ during random testing by SAIDS, there has been much bruiting about the doping case.
According to the SARU statement, Ntlabakanye, who played his third Test in the record 73-0 whitewash of Wales back in November, has steadfastly disputed the claim he committed an anti-doping violation.