Disgraced Springbok Elton Jantjies claims he will be ‘back soon’ in cryptic video
Springboks fly-half Elton Jantjies during a Test match between South Africa and Scotland.
Former Springboks fly-half Elton Jantjies claims that he will be back playing rugby “sooner than you think” in a cryptic video posted to his Instagram.
The 2019 Rugby World Cup winner was slapped with a four-year doping sanction by the SA Institute for Drug-Free Sports (SAIDS) in August 2023 but failed to exercise his right to have his case heard before an Independent Doping Hearing Panel in January this year.
This is after he vowed to prove his innocence, which he claims he will still do.
In the meantime, he has been linked with a return to action at his former club, the Lions, next season after the World Anti-Doping Agency suspended the accreditation of the South African Doping Control Laboratory in Bloemfontein.
The lab is believed to have been the same one that produced the results that led to Jantjies’ ban.
Returning to action soon
In a recent video posted on Jantjies‘ Instagram account, he claims to have facts and evidence against “a lot of organisations” that tested him and maintained his innocence.
“A lot of people have a lot of questions in terms of my rugby career but just know that I will be back sooner than what you guys think,” he said.
“Through all the research, through all the facts, through all the evidence and people involved, a lot of organisations involved in me being tested [positive] for something that I’ve never used.
“I’ll elaborate a bit more on me missing my second World Cup, but I’m not negative about it because, for me, I’m preparing myself for much more – much bigger.
“Obviously, I’ve got a few things that I need to sort out, but I’m very positive, and I truly believe these couple of months are a blessing in disguise.”
Jantjies has been the centre of several controversial stories in recent times, including allegations of an affair with the Springboks’ team dietician while he was also charged for damaging equipment on an Emirates flight.
Springboks hooker back in Rassie Erasmus’ plans after World Cup snub
Evidence against organisations
The 33-year-old claims to have evidence against a lot of organisations who aren’t “not doing it the right way.”
“Yes, I want to play rugby. Yes, I want to do what I love, but it creates other opportunities for me,” he continued in the video.
“It created a lot of answers for me in my life, my personal life, and throughout my rugby career because there are a lot of people that I looked up to, but they disappointed me badly, people that I believed in. A big eye-opener.
“So when I get back to the rugby field, there’s definitely going to be a different version of Elton, but thanks to all my family members who have been supporting me and a lot of fans who still support me.
“Just believe I’ll be back on the park sooner than what you think because I’ve got all the right answers. I’ve got all the facts, and I’ve got all the evidence against a lot of organisations that are not doing it the right way.”
Jantjies needs to prove his innocence
One could assume that Jantjies is referring to SAIDS and SA Rugby, but throughout the video, he does not specify.
In March, SAID’s Chief Executive Officer Khalid Galant poured cold water over the rumours of Jantjies’ return, stating that overturning his ban would be an unprecedented decision.
“Jantjies will have a high bar to overcome to have his case re-heard,” Galant told Rugby365.
“It would be unprecedented in our history and the burden of proof will be on Jantjies to first provide evidence and an argument within the framework of the World Anti-Doping Code on why his case should be heard de novo.
“Then evidence and proof of how the suspension of the Lab [procedures in the Bloem lab] caused his sample to be positive for a banned substance.”
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