Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Sports scientist highlights issue rugby is facing with drugs in wake of Dyantyi case

Aphiwe Dyantyi in action for the Lions in Super Rugby in June (Photo by Lee Warren/Gallo Images)

The rugby world – and particularly South African rugby – has been rocked in recent weeks by Aphiwe Dyantyi’s failed drugs test. The Springboks winger’s A and B samples tested positive for multiple anabolic steroids and he now faces a potential four-year ban. 

ADVERTISEMENT

This is not the first failed drugs test for a South African player in recent months, but it is undoubtedly the most high-profile, as Dyantyi was named World Rugby’s breakthrough player of the year in 2018. 

Respected sports scientist Ross Tucker has now given his thoughts on this topic on Twitter, with a lengthy thread explaining that doping is not necessarily a problem in South African rugby, but in society. 

Tucker, who is a science and research consultant for World Rugby, acknowledged that some players take banned substances inadvertently, but he added that “we should ask whether SA has a cultural/societal doping issue? The answer is clearly yes. Go to a gym and try (not even hard) to get steroids”.

He explained that doping is a problem not only throughout South Africa but also the world, so it will inevitably leak into sport and rugby is not the only one that is facing this problem. 

(Continue reading below…)

Video Spacer

The Science of Sport writer went on to describe the limitations of the current testing system, saying that it is largely ineffective. “Investigation and probing for whistleblowers is far better, with testing to confirm (sometimes).”

He shared the stat that 2.6 per cent of tests over the past two years have been violations in South Africa, but said that it is necessary to see these stats from around the world in order to gauge the severity of the problem.

ADVERTISEMENT

The main fault seems to be how hard it would be to test every person in South African rugby, and even harder to test them multiple times. Tucker expanded on why this is so hard by giving an estimate of how many players would need to be tested.

He said: “If you take 391 tests in 2017/18 as an example, imagine that’s got to cover six franchises in SA (250 players?), plus each has academies (300 more?), plus provincial teams (another 300?) plus schoolboys, you’re spreading 391 tests over what? 1,200 players? 1 in 4 per year.”

There does not seem to be the resources to consistently monitor team sports, which suggests that doping may be much more widespread as there will inevitably be players that are not tested at all. Given how dispersed rugby is between national and club set-ups, it only makes the matter of testing and tracking players harder. 

One solution that Tucker put forward is a passport for body composition, which he says will be able to “track over time, muscle mass and body fat levels, and search for unusual patterns”.

ADVERTISEMENT

Similar things are being used in sports such as cycling, which allows sustained and regular biological measurements of a competitor. 

Another suggestion is to set limits to mass and muscle mass percentages, which would inevitably deter players from taking steroids, while also having further welfare benefits. 

Ultimately, it was stressed on Twitter that information has to be released from around the world to get an insight into how South Africa compares. Steroid use is prevalent in society and while the testing system allows players to get away with it, it will still be a problem in rugby. 

WATCH: England’s Neil Back features in the opening episode of the new RugbyPass series, Rugby World Cup Memories 

Video Spacer

 

ADVERTISEMENT

HSBC SVNS Singapore 2025 | Day Two Men's Highlights

HSBC SVNS Singapore 2025 | Day Two Women's Highlights

Jet Lag: The biggest challenge facing international sports? | The Report

Boks Office | Episode 39 | The Investec Champions Cup is back

Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry? | New Zealand & Australia | Sevens Wonders | Episode 5

Kobelco Kobe Steelers vs Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo | Japan Rugby League One 2024/25 | Full Match Replay

The Rise of Kenya | The Report

The Fixture: How This Rugby Rivalry Has Lasted 59 Years

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

J
Johnsonfidelis 3 hours ago
Gareth Anscombe returns as Gloucester makes 7 changes for Bath

I got a call from a trader for the first time in August 2024. Less than a ”

I got a call from a trader for the first time in August 2024. Less than a year later, through a fabricated process of baiting me with unbelievable profits, and matching my losses, I was in over $185,000. The platform had assigned my personal broker to me, that called me from time to time to tell me about their new offers. And they said he was one of their top brokers, they further told me the broker had made a lot of people so rich. The broker told me there was an insurance that they get on them, every trade that we do that's secured and we could never lose money, he will put in there that it's an insured secure trade, and they buy the insurance for it. so i was assured, I won't lose any money on if we lose. Okay? But the catch is, you have to bring in an additional $25,000 in order to get that secured trade status on your account. I stupidly did this. Once I hit a certain profit level, I tried to remove money from them. That's when they denied me being able to take out my own money. They also told me to pay an additional fee to bring out my money. I was blocked out of my accounts and denied withdrawal even after i contacted them in various ways. Of course they never told me that additional of $25k from the beginning. So when I heard that, then it was pretty obvious to me that they were running a scam.I was very sad and confused after investing a lot. Earlier this year February 15th 2025, i was able to get my invested capital back including profit and the $25k additional fees with the help of the INTELLIGENCE CYBER WIZARD Assets Recovery (You can contact them below). They offer the best in monetary recovery if you are victim of cryptocurrency fraud, binary options fraud, real estate Investment fraud and many more.

G-mail: intelligencecyberwizard@gmail.com

WhatsApp: + 1 2 1 9 4 2 4 7 5 6 6

Proton mail: intelligencecyberwizard@proton

.me

0 Go to comments
K
Katy Martin 4 hours ago
Duhan van der Merwe's Lions tour thrown into doubt

As a truck driver who spends long hours on the road, I understand the value of hard work. My job demands long shifts, constant focus, and time away from loved ones. To make extra income during my limited downtime, I started mining cryptocurrency. After months of dedication, I finally saved enough to buy BITCOIN through P2P on Binance. It felt like a major milestone. I was proud of what I had built, turning my effort into BITCOIN, an asset I believed in. That pride quickly turned into heartbreak. Someone I trusted scammed me out of $85,000 worth of BITCOIN in a single transaction. I was crushed. I had sacrificed sleep, missed out on time with friends and family, and worked relentlessly, only to have everything taken from me in seconds. The emotional and financial blow was devastating. Still, I was not ready to give up. I started researching ways to recover stolen BITCOIN and came across TECH CYBER FORCE RECOVERY. I saw countless testimonials from people who had lost cryptocurrency and managed to recover it with their help. Desperate but hopeful, I reached out and shared my story. To my complete shock, TECH CYBER FORCE RECOVERY managed to trace and recover my stolen BITCOIN within just 21 hours. The funds were safely returned to my wallet. I cannot describe the relief I felt. Months of hard work were not wasted after all. My belief in BITCOIN as a store of value had been shaken, but thanks to TECH CYBER FORCE RECOVERY, I got a second chance. Even more incredible, their team helped law enforcement track down the scammer responsible. That person was arrested, and justice was served. I could finally breathe again, knowing that the person who took advantage of my trust was held accountable. If you have lost BITCOIN or other crypto to a scam, whether through fake investments, phishing schemes, or fraudulent platforms, do not lose hope. TECH CYBER FORCE RECOVERY specializes in recovering stolen BITCOIN and other digital assets, even from apps like Binance, Cash App, or Coinbase. Their team is fast, trustworthy, and truly committed to helping victims like me. Losing BITCOIN you worked hard for is painful, but recovery is possible. Reach out to TECH CYBER FORCE RECOVERY today and take back control of your financial future. CONSUL THEM wa.me/15617263697

2 Go to comments
TRENDING
TRENDING Newcastle DoR Steve Diamond to learn fate Friday Newcastle DoR Steve Diamond to learn fate Friday
Search