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In bold: A new twist emerges in the Ntlabakanye doping case, reshaping how this saga unfolds and who gets to play in the meantime.
A Springbok prop, Asenathi Ntlabakanye, will remain eligible to represent the Lions at least through the end of March. After testing positive for a banned substance earlier in the year, he was not considered by the Springboks in August. His hearing, initially slated for December, has been postponed. According to Rapport, the postponement is due to the availability of expert witnesses and ongoing logistical hurdles, delaying the decision process.
Khalid Galant, CEO of the South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport (Saids), told Rapport that the matter has now been shifted to the last week of March. Both the athlete’s representatives and Saids are continuing to secure expert opinions before a final ruling.
This delay has practical implications for Ntlabakanye’s playing time. He remains eligible to be selected for up to ten Lions matches across the Vodacom URC and the Investec Challenge Cup before the hearing, with his likely last appearance before the hearing penciled in for the 21 March clash against Edinburgh. He started for the Lions against Benetton recently and also played for the Springboks in Cardiff against Wales last month.
Importantly, Ntlabakanye has not been provisionally suspended because the substance involved does not trigger an automatic provisional ban. He has chosen not to step aside voluntarily, allowing continued play until the case reaches a conclusion.
Rapport notes a potential mitigating factor: if a sports doctor prescribed the substance, this could influence the severity of any sanction. Early expectations suggest that any final penalty might land in the one-to-two-year range rather than the maximum four years.
For further details and updates, see the full report from Netwerk24.
