Bok player Asenathi Ntlabakanye faces four-year ban after second doping charge

947’s Robert Marawa speaks with Khalid Galant, CEO of the South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport (SAIDS). 

Watch the discussion below:

Springbok and Lions rugby player Asenathi Ntlabakanye faces a maximum four-year ban after being formally charged with two anti-doping violations by SAIDS.

In the first case, disclosed by SA Rugby in August, the 26-year-old tested positive for a ‘specified’ substance during a July routine test.

RELATED: Springbok Asenathi Ntlabakanye tests positive for 'non-performance enhancing' banned substance

While the drug is not considered performance-enhancing, it still carries the risk of a two-year ban.

He recently tested positive for a ‘non-specified’ and performance-enhancing substance.

Ntlabakanye did declare he was taking the drug prior to the test.

The case is unusual as he claims both medications were prescribed and cleared by medical professionals.

Ntlabakanye has until the end of September to decide if he will plead guilty and accept a three-year sanction, or contest the charges before an independent tribunal. An appeal could see him being fined or sanctioned for a maximum of four years.

Although he is technically eligible to play, he was withdrawn by Springbok management from the recent tour to New Zealand.

RELATED: ‘I want to play for the Springboks, it’s a goal of mine’ – Asenathi Ntlabakanye

“Different performance enhancement substances have different classifications… non-specified doesn’t have a mandatory suspicion.”

– Khalid Galant, South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport CEO 

“In sport, the rules are pretty rigid... there is strict liability, so the athlete is still held liable for whatever is found in their system, irrespective of who told them to ingest it.”

– Khalid Galant, South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport CEO 

Scroll up to watch the discussion.