SA rugby player tests positive

The finding will shock South African rugby

A South African rugby player has tested positive for a banned substance, the South African Rugby Football Union has reported.

SARFU were unable to disclose the identity of the player, but the Cape Town-based newpaper Die Burger reported that he is a well-known Springbok forward who plays provincial rugby for the Western Province but is not part of the Springbok side currently touring Argentina.

The newspaper reported that the test is believed to have been carried out before last weekend's Currie Cup final and the player is said to have tested positive for steroids.

SARFU has also refused to name the banned substance that showed in the test.

Positive result

The union said the player had been informed of the positive result and had been given 14 days, until 10 November, to request that his B sample be tested.

He will also be given the opportunity to state his intentions on appearing before a disciplinary tribunal.

If found guilty, the player could be banned from playing rugby for at least two years according to International Rugby Board rules.

The last prominent South African player to have tested positive for a banned substance was provincial lock Johan Ackermann, who returned to rugby this year with the Gauteng Lions after a serving two-year ban.

He had been found guilty of abusing anabolic steroids.