Springbok speedster Aphiwe Dyantyi has been banned from playing rugby until August 12, 2023 – two weeks before his 29th birthday.
The 26-year-old, who was the 2018 World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year, tested positive for three banned substances following a national training camp in 2019.
His hearing was finally held last month and newspaper Rapport said SAIDS had informed Dyanti that he would be banned until August 12, 2023, with an official announcement to follow on Monday.
“The decision makes no sense,” Dyantyi’s agent Gert van der Merwe told Rapport. “I still have to read the full decision.
“My legal team and I plan on analysing the decision next week and we will decide whether to appeal.
‘I can’t give any details, since the case has not yet been finalised. If it were up to me, we would definitely appeal. The problem is that there are costs associated with it.
‘Aphiwe has not received a salary for the last 18 months and we’re trying to see what we can do.’
Sam Burgess and the 5 Biggest Drug Scandals in Rugby
Former England captain Sam Burgess has stepped down as South Sydney Rabbitohs assistant coach while police investigate allegations made against him.
The Australian newspaper reported on Friday that the National Rugby League (NRL) club had covered up alleged drug use and domestic violence by Burgess.
The 31-year-old’s lawyer denied the claims in a statement to the newspaper.
This isn’t the first, and unfortunately, won’t be the final drugs scandal to hit rugby.
1. Bath trio banned
Former England international, Michael Lipman, who had won 10 caps for his country was handed a nine month ban for a drug offence in 2009.
The same ban was dished out to his ex-team-mates at Bath, Alex Crockett and Andrew Higgins, for refusing to submit to doping tests despite repeated requests by their employers.
