Springbok Asenathi Ntlabakanye to attend hearing over banned substance allegation

Netwerk24 reports that Khalid Galant, CEO of the South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport, confirmed the development on Monday.

The case dates back to September, when Galant revealed that the player faced two separate anti-doping charges: one relating to a specified substance (anastrozole) and another involving a non-specified substance (DHEA).

The 26-year-old Lions player returned a positive test last year for a substance that had been prescribed by a specialist. The matter has now progressed to a decisive stage, with significant consequences looming.

If found guilty, Ntlabakanye could be handed a suspension of up to four years, a penalty that could effectively end his professional career. Both the Springboks and the Lions will be hoping for a more lenient ruling, or ideally a complete exoneration.

Ntlabakanye has earned four Test caps for South Africa and played a role in their 2025 Rugby Championship triumph.

Following the failed test, he was left out of the Springboks squad for their clashes against the All Blacks in New Zealand, with head coach Rassie Erasmus omitting him from the squad for rounds three and four of the competition.

At the time, SA Rugby confirmed the positive result, noting that the player disputes any wrongdoing and maintains he did not violate anti-doping regulations.

Despite the ongoing case, Ntlabakanye has continued to feature on the field. He recently took part in the Lions’ dominant victory over Edinburgh and attended a Springbok alignment camp in Cape Town earlier this month.

With the hearing imminent, however, uncertainty now surrounds his future.