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South African Rugby issue statement after Elton Jantjies doping ban

Elton Jantjies of South Africa walks onto the field during team warm up prior to the Rugby World Cup 2019 Semi-Final match between Wales and South Africa at International Stadium Yokohama on October 27, 2019 in Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

The South African Rugby Union have responded to the news that Springboks fly-half Elton Jantjies has been banned for four years for a failed drugs test.

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The South African Institute for Drug-Free Sports (SAIDS) announced on their website on Thursday that the 33-year-old has been banned for four years after testing positive for the prohibited substance Clenbuterol (a fat-burning and asthma medication that also enhances a user’s stamina) on 20 June 2023.

Though the 46-cap Springbok is not contracted to SA Rugby, having been contracted to Agen in France’s Pro D2 since November 2022, CEO Rian Oberholzer issued a statement shortly after Jantjies’ ban was announced condemning drug use in rugby.

The statement reads: “The South African Rugby Union wholly supports clean sport and maintains that there is absolutely no place in rugby for doping. We have trust in the processes and outcomes followed by the independent anti-doping agencies, whose job it is to support sports in keeping the game clean.”

Jantjies had been called into South Africa’s training squad in June last year as injury cover for Handre Pollard, but curiously made neither their Rugby Championship squad nor their World Cup squad. He issued a statement soon after explaining what had happened, while insisting his innocence. He said: “It with no small amount of shock and sadness that I have to inform you that I received notification earlier this month, from the South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport, that a urine sample that I had provided to them in June 2023, returned a positive test for a banned substance, Clenbuterol.”

A spokesperson for Jantjies has already issued a statement in response to the ban, saying: “Elton would prefer not to engage with the media and his legal team are working on the case/appeal. Yes he is aware of the sanction.”

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Comments

2 Comments
W
Wayneo 400 days ago

Thinking about all his womanising etc., that maybe one of the disgruntled exes could have spiked his coffee with cough syrup.

S
Shaylen 400 days ago

He should have retired before his ban. Career is done now

R
Red and White Dynamight 401 days ago

SA Rugby have been hiding their drug cheats for decades already; club sides, school sides, Springboks. Pienaar openly talked about being “juiced” in the pre-Super days, amphetamines were de rigueur. When the mindset is stuck on ‘victim’ - where defeat only comes at the whistle of a cheating ref - this allows all heads to be turned the other way when shit goes down. Rassie and his ‘leaked’ videos were applauded and lauded. Bakkies and his thuggery gifted us #JUSTICE4. Safas simply dont care, the ends justifies the means.

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J
JW 1 hour ago
Where is the new breed of All Black 10?

Players like Prendergast and Finn Smith already have a few seasons at top club level under their belt and are now test players, at an age when NZ players make their debuts in SR.

That’s just a difference in standards. You’re confusing SR for being their local domestic comps, where it’s more accurately comparable to Champions Cup, apart from that teams are happy to throw games as it’s in a bit of a limbo in terms of importance atm.


All these kids have been playing for a comparable NPC team for years now. Sam is no where near ready for tests but he has a great temperament, much like Sextons, that makes it a good choice to speed up his development. He wasn’t even a comparable Super Rugby starter before playing for Ireland, so not a great comparison.


Fin would be much better example, but then England don’t have 3 world class Test tens in front of him (not that I’d put Beauden their but obviously in terms of young NZ players chances, he is). Would he otherwise have debuted at the same age as Fergus Burke (injury and leaving withstanding), around 24, a couple of years later? England also aren’t as pedantic to who they give jerseys to, in NZ a test jersey is very hard earned for the most part.


In general I think the effects are as you say, but the only difference is the money involved, as you yourself said, their paths are just as all over the show being loaned out playing for clubs etc. My solution to that, and what you perceive as the problem, would be to introduce university football that utilitizes the large investment they have into high performance sport.

86 Go to comments
J
Jennifer Ross 3 hours ago
One rule for Europe's copycats, another for the Springboks

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Regards.

28 Go to comments
J
Jennifer Ross 3 hours ago
One rule for Europe's copycats, another for the Springboks

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J
JW 3 hours ago
Where is the new breed of All Black 10?

JJ and DMac shows how little attention you actually pay to the substance of the articles.

What do you mean by that? For lack of an answer from you I’d suggest yuo need to look at the game again and then read your article. Because although I’m not going to again but I did quickly review the videos and they all match correctly with my perception.

JTPL is shifting towards overseas players being JQP in future

No they’re not, thats a flatout lie Nick. You can find an article on here with their CEO where they want more out of their deals but it’s standard professional sports fair, nothing underhand like the NH does. I find that quite foul that you would share such a view.


I suppose the new World Club League thats starting would die for the best ABs even for just a year, and probably set them up even better. Mo’unga hadn’t done enough to earn a sabbatical though. This is where NZR needs to start questioning itself. You can’t blame the player if the NZR are not even interesting in offering you a contract. In situations where say NZR aren’t able to reach 70% of the offer I think a great starting point would be for them to be treated differently than someone who just left for money. NZR could say make that player immediately eligible if NZR decide to make a fair offer and they sign to return, with players putting in their overseas contracts a right to leave early if they resign back with NZR.


Even with Japans fading desire for sabbaticals I still think NZ can make it a good destination and have many reciprocal agreements with JRFU and the JRLO teams. The situation still very much favours NZ and Australia but it’s upto them to make the most of it or the JRFU won’t see any reason to be the ones always giving the favours.

86 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ Brendan Fanning: 'Wales have been insulted by the degree of arrogance abroad on this side of the Irish Sea.' Brendan Fanning: 'Wales have been insulted by the degree of arrogance abroad on this side of the Irish Sea.'
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