Springboks prop’s ‘realistic hope’ after second doping charge
Springboks prop Asenathi Ntlabakanye.
Newly capped Springboks prop Asenathi Ntlabakanye’s career is at a crossroads with the threat of a four-year ban looming.
The tighthead prop missed South Africa’s New Zealand leg of the Rugby Championship after returning an adverse finding for a specified (non-performance enhancing) substance found during a routine doping test.
While he is currently not suspended, head coach Rassie Erasmus and his staff opted not to select him for the two Tests against the All Blacks in order to shield him from the media and allow him to focus on defending his case.
Ntlabakanye faces a ban despite negligence
However, matters look to have gone from bad to worse to Ntlabakanye with the Daily Maverick’s Craig Ray reporting that the South African Institute for Drug Free Sport (Saids) formally charged the front rower for taking the non-specified (performance-enhancing) drug Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), which he declared on a medical form.
This is a separate charge to the one mentioned in a South African Rugby Union press release last month and surfaces after the player also declared another prescribed drug, used to treat a medical condition, to testers on a form, which contains a non-specified (performance-enhancing) ingredient, DHEA.
Springboks prop NOT banned despite ‘adverse’ drug test finding
The medications that the Lions prop took were specifically checked by two medical professionals, and he was cleared to take them.
Ntlabakanye followed protocol by listing the drugs he was on at a routine testing after clearing the prescription with both the endocrinologist he had seen to address his weight issues, and another sports doctor.
However, he effectively incriminated himself under the “strict liability” rule when he declared the non-specified (performance-enhancing) drug on the form even though it did not show up in the blood test, possibly because it was out of his system.
While the report and SA Rugby’s statement emphasise that these drugs were prescribed and cleared by two medical professionals, Ntlabakanye could still be banned.
This is because the anti-doping code places a heavy burden on athletes to prove their innocence and operates on the principle of “strict liability” which means that athletes are fully responsible for what goes into their bodies, regardless of medical advice.
The Springbok could very well be innocent, but ultimately his defence may hinge on whether he is able to prove negligence by the doctors. Even then, the report adds that he ‘can realistically hope for is a reduced sentence of two years’ but a four-year ban is possible too.
Springboks omission
There are very few cases where positive dope tests are overturned, and the process is rather tricky, as the athletes are not innocent until proven guilty, like most legal cases, because of the strict liability.
Last month, Lions chief executive Rudolf Straeuli revealed that the Johannesburg-based outfit had launched an internal investigation to uncover how the Bok prop had been prescribed the banned substances, while Erasmus also explained his reasoning behind his omission in the touring squad.
“We could’ve brought him on tour, but I had a long conversation with him about it,” Erasmus said from New Zealand.
“If you look at the emotional and personal side of it, having Asenathi on tour would’ve led to a lot of questions for him. To play and be ready for a Test, your focus must be 100% on the match. I think in this situation, he needs to deal with the matter and ensure he presents his side of the case. It’s very emotional for him.
“Unfortunately, it would not have been in his best interest to be here with us. We had a good talk. This process takes a lot of energy, which is essential when going into a Test match. It would’ve been unfair to put him under that pressure and expect him to play while he has this to deal with.”
The Bok boss’ remarks suggested that even if a decision is reached before the November internationals, the three-Test cap front rower who debuted against Italy in July is unlikely to make the trip north.
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