Springbok Asenathi Ntlabakanye will not play any rugby for the foreseeable future. But when exactly does his ban come into effect and when will he be eligible for selection again?
RECAP OF THE VIOLATION AND THE SUBSEQUENT BAN
In May 2025, Ntlabakanye tested positive for anastrozole, a non-performance-enhancing substance prescribed by a doctor. He was also charged for declaring the use of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) – a performance-enhancing substance – on a medical form.
Ntlabakanye actually volunteered the information in good faith that he had also taken dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), a ‘non-specified’ and ‘performance-enhancing’ substance. And according to the Springbok front rower, the substance was apparently prescribed by “a specialist physician early in 2025 for medical reasons”.
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE SPRINGBOK’S BAN
- The 27-year-old has been banned for 18 months, effective from 13 May.
- Will only be able to play again from 13 November 2027.
- Will miss the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia.
- He must also forfeit any income and awards he received since first testing positive on 22 May 2025.
- The player, the South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport (Saids), World Rugby and the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) have 21 days in which to file an appeal against the sanction to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
THE LIONS RELEASE STATEMENT ON STAR PROP’S SUSPENSION
The Lions received communication from Saids regarding the sanction on Thursday.
“As a result of Saids’ decision, Ntlabakanye’s period of ineligibility commenced on 13 May 2026, which rules him out of this weekend’s round 18 Vodacom United Rugby Championship fixture against Munster,” the Lions said in a statement.
Together with the player’s organisation MyPlayers, the Lions will deliberate on the appropriate next steps.
“During this time, the Lions Rugby Company will continue to support Ntlabakanye as he navigates the process ahead,” the statement added.
