Failed tests rack up for South Africa

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May 14, 2026, 22:20

Failed tests rack up for South Africa

In March, Telegraph Sport revealed that drugs tests of rugby players in South Africa had plunged more than sixfold in a decade.

The significant drop in testing coincided with the Springboks becoming the most dominant force in Test rugby, winning back-to-back World Cups in 2019 and 2023.


May 14, 2026, 22:22

I guess all the facts will come out in the end - One way or another.

There have been major concerns for quite some time.

May 14, 2026, 23:02

...But many of the most important Boks play abroad in the Japan and Europe. They're subject to the same testing as everybody else.


The local Boks have been playing in the URC for five years. Subject to the same testing as their European counterparts.


Care to elaborate?


However, I think there is a doping issue at school level. Kids are juicing until they hit 10th or 11th grade. They get huge and then if they expect to play meaningful rugby in their final year at school they come off the juice. By which time they're already freak looking and basically just keep their diet and training regiments goings so they don't really lose much.


My feeling is that from the age of 16, these kids should be tested at schools level if they are competing in contact sports.

May 14, 2026, 23:07

Whether it's bent home refs, drugs or thuggery, the Yarpies have a long history of cheating.


Can't wait for the ABs to show the SteroidBoks who is still number one.

May 15, 2026, 01:14

Ja, ja we know...good luck with the sour grapes ...must be hard gargling all that vinegar...

May 15, 2026, 07:36

They are all black players that get caught doping. Makes quota rugby hard on these players and not many quality to chose from

May 15, 2026, 07:38

Most notable, Chillie Boy, Ashanti, no Clubakanye. The list goes on.


The delusional SA rugby public think we have so much talent, however, the white population is shrinking, going abroad, most quality white players go abroad. They might not all be test players but they are better than those who have taken their places

May 15, 2026, 09:08

Whether it's bent home refs, drugs or thuggery, the Yarpies have a long history of cheating.


Can't wait for the ABs to show the SteroidBoks who is still number one.



Boy those drugs sure are potent. Who would have thought they could result in the ABs being thrashed by 43 points to 10.


At home? Denial is understandable one can sense the pain.

May 15, 2026, 09:33

Very harsh on Asenathi


He was prescribed the stuff by a doctor. It was all passed by the Lion's medical team and it was declared on his URC paperwork.


He was totally open about everything at every step, he trusted the professionals who were meant to be looking out for him...and now he's banned for 18 months.


At that point, I'm sorry, but I am suing my physician and the Lions medical team.


Why should he cop a ban for their mistakes!?!?!?!?



May 15, 2026, 09:56

Personal responsibility still applies here. His physician might have prescribed it and the Lions medical team might have cleared it...


But every professional rugby player is ultimately responsible for what goes into their own body.


It's like someone handing you a bag of cocaine saying it's an energy supplement...do you just blindly take it without checking what's actually in it?


Or do you take responsibility and verify first? The anti doping rules are crystal clear on this. Ignorance and trust in others is not a valid defence.


Suing the physician and the Lions medical team won't help, the ban stands regardless.


The responsibility for what enters your body as a professional athlete, has always been yours and yours alone.

May 15, 2026, 09:58

"Very harsh on Asenathi


He was prescribed the stuff by a doctor. It was all passed by the Lion's medical team and it was declared on his URC paperwork.


He was totally open about everything at every step, he trusted the professionals who were meant to be looking out for him...and now he's banned for 18 months.


At that point, I'm sorry, but I am suing my physician and the Lions medical team.


Why should he cop a ban for their mistakes!?!?!?!?"


THIS!



At that point, I'm sorry, but I am suing my physician and the Lions medical team.


ESPECIALLY THIS!

May 15, 2026, 12:00

M


When you take your car to the mechanic, can you reasonably expect that he won't leave it in a condition that will be dangerous and cause you get into an accident? Assume he doesn't and you end up killing someone on the highway. I'm sure that you'll take full responsibility in court and have not a word to say about the mechanic, right?


You use of the word "anybody" doesn't ring correct. It's not "somebody". They are paid professionals.


Here is a list of SOME banned substances...


Abiraterone

Acetazolamide

Adrafinil

Adrenaline

Aicar

Ajmaline

Albuterol

Aldosterone

Amfetamine

Amiloride

Andarine

Androstenedione

Androstenediol

Anastrozole

Arformoterol

Armodafinil

Atamestane

Bambuterol

Becaplermin

Benfluorex

Benzphetamine

Betamethasone

Boldenone

Bolasterone

Bolazine

Bromantan

Budesonide

Bumetanide

Buprenorphine

Buserelin

Calusterone

Cannabidiol derivatives

Cannabis

Canrenone

Carboxy-THC

Carbuterol

Carvedilol

Cathine

Cathinone

Celiprolol

Ceritinib

Chlortalidone

Clenbuterol

Clobenzorex

Clomifene

Clostebol

Clenpenterol

Cocaine

Codeine

Corticorelin

Corticotropin

Cortisone

Cropropamide

Cyclazodone

Danazol

Darbepoetin alfa

Dehydrochlormethyltestosterone

Desoxymethyltestosterone

Dexamethasone

Dexamphetamine

DHEA

Diamorphine

Dienolone

Dihydrotestosterone

Dimethylamphetamine

Drostanolone

Ecdysterone

Enobosarm

Epitrenbolone

EPO

Ephedrine

Epinephrine

Eplerenone

Esmolol

Etamivan

Etilefrine

Etiocholanolone

Exemestane

Fenbutrazate

Fencamfamin

Fenetylline

Fenfluramine

Fenoterol

Fentanyl

Finasteride

Fluoxymesterone

Formebolone

Formoterol

Furazabol

Furosemide

Gefitinib

Gestrinone

Glucocorticoids

Gonadorelin

Growth hormone

HCG

HGH fragments

Higenamine

Hydrochlorothiazide

Hydrocodone

Hydromorphone

IGF-1

Insulin

Isometheptene

Ketamine

Landiolol

LASIK masking agents

Lefamulin

Leuprorelin

Levomethamphetamine

LGD-4033

Lisdexamfetamine

Loperamide abuse derivatives

Lorcaserin

Meldonium

Mefenorex

Mephentermine

Mesterolone

Mesocarb

Metandienone

Metenolone

Methadone

Methamphetamine

Methandriol

Methasterone

Methenolone

Methoxy polyethylene glycol-epoetin beta

Methylephedrine

Methylhexanamine

Methylphenidate

Methyltestosterone

Metolazone

Mibolerone

Modafinil

Morphine

Myostatin inhibitors

Nabiximols

Nandrolone

Nebivolol

Nikethamide

Norandrostenedione

Norbolethone

Norclostebol

Norfenfluramine

Norethandrolone

Octopamine

Ostarine

Oxabolone

Oxandrolone

Oxilofrine

Oxprenolol

Oxycodone

Oxymesterone

Oxymetholone

Pemoline

Pentazocine

Pentetrazol

Perindopril abuse derivatives

Phendimetrazine

Phentermine

Phenmetrazine

Phenpromethamine

Pirbuterol

Prednisolone

Prednisone

Prasterone

Probenecid

Procaterol

Propranolol

Prostanozol

Pseudoephedrine

Quinbolone

RAD-140

Raloxifene

Recombinant EPO

Rimonabant

Ritodrine

SARMs

Salbutamol

Salmeterol

Sibutramine

Sotalol

Spironolactone

Stanozolol

Stimulants

Strychnine

Tamoxifen

TB-500

Temazepam misuse combinations

Terbutaline

Testosterone

THC

Thiazides

Thymosin beta-4

Toremifene

Torsemide

Tramadol

Trenbolone

Triamcinolone

Triamterene

Trimetazidine

Tuaminoheptane

Turinabol

Ulobetasol

Vilanterol

Xipamide

Zeranol

Zilpaterol

Zipaterol


And many more designer steroids, peptide analogues, metabolites, and experimental compounds.


It's why people are paid to check this stuff.


...and why those people are not simply classed as "somebody".




May 15, 2026, 12:24

Firstly show me exactly where I used the word anybody in my post...because I didn't. So already you're debating something I never said...


Secondly your analogy is actually weak and here is why...when I send my bike in for a service or to fix a problem, I ask for every old part, every old filter they removed.


I want it all back so I can verify with my own eyes that new parts went in. That is called personal responsibility and verification.


Now apply that same logic to Asenathi...you are a professional rugby player. Your career, your livelihood, your reputation depends entirely on what goes into your body.


You have access to that entire banned substances list you just posted. Before taking anything prescribed or cleared by anyone...you verify it yourself.


Saying oh but the professionals checked it is the same as saying oh but my mechanic said it was fine so I never looked at what he did myself. That is blind trust with your career on the line.


If Asenathi had taken ten minutes to cross reference what he was taking against that list...he would have found it. That is exactly the point.


The responsibility always lands with you in the end. Not your physician and not the Lions medical team.


May 15, 2026, 12:42

"Secondly your analogy is actually weak and here is why...when I send my bike in for a service or to fix a problem, I ask for every old part, every old filter they removed.


I want it all back so I can verify with my own eyes that new parts went in. That is called personal responsibility and verification."


...an if you are not someone that is able to asses car and bike parts?


What then?


May 15, 2026, 14:35

Well, I would suggest going on Google and researching what that specific part for your make and model of vehicle looks like when it’s worn.


Save the pictures so you can compare them with the old parts your mechanic removed. Another option is to take someone with you who can assess those parts.


Also, rely on friends and family to recommend a trustworthy mechanic, that they've built up a good relationship with.

May 15, 2026, 15:29

New Zealand are now our bitches... we own them....

The All Blacks are no longer even the 2nd best team in the world.


Their tight five is so weak that the last All Black coach was considering fielding their cheerleader girls in the bomb squad. If New Zealand do not get off to a good start, the pack just falls away in the 2nd half.

Super Rugby has become a netball competition, and is not good preparation for test rugby.


On their day, the All Blacks are still good - but they will struggle in a tournament because they can't string together 3 back to back matches consistently.

May 15, 2026, 16:07

Sounds like a brilliant idea, M.


You should probably tell all those people that have lost professional liability cases your strategy.


I guess, if I go to the doctor and his treatment ends up killing me. I shoulda known better.


May 15, 2026, 16:41

Ai jaai jaai man, anti doping regulations operate under strict liability. That means regardless of who prescribed it, regardless of professional negligence, the athlete is responsible for what is in their body.


That is not my opinion. That is the rule every professional rugby player signs up to. And your doctor analogy is again weak.


Medical treatment carries inherent unpredictable risks...A banned substances list is publicly available, clearly published and every professional athlete is obligated by contract to know it.


Those two things are not remotely comparable. You are confusing professional liability law with anti doping strict liability.


They are completely different frameworks and both can apply simultaneously.

May 15, 2026, 16:52

It does appear SA have had a disproportionate number of doping cases over the years. Why is this, do you think ?


The Georgian found guilty as well has been banned for eleven years !

May 15, 2026, 17:02

Yes, we all know that the player is ultimately held liable. That was never in dispute.


But there are people that are paid to make sure that outcome didn't occur.


...hence my opinion that I would sue the physician and the Lions' medical team.


...and also my opinion that the sentence was harsh considering the circumstances.


Remind me again, what is your point?





May 15, 2026, 23:21

Is it just coincidental that the 2 countries in the world with the best scrums (Georgia and SA) are currently the ones with much publicised drug abuse incidents??

May 16, 2026, 00:25

It's no coincidence bro. They're drug cheats. Dunno about the Georgies but the Yarpies have been cheating for decades. Everyone knows it.

May 16, 2026, 05:26

"That was never in dispute."

"Remind me again, what is your point?"


Honestly bro??!! Open your eyes and read properly...End of story, thanks for proving my point...

May 16, 2026, 08:02

here, I asked Chat GPT some questions...


Query;

what is the role of medical teams at sports clubs in relation to medication and supplements.


Response;

at most professional sports clubs, the medical and performance staff are responsible for reviewing and approving medications, supplements, and recovery products used by athletes.

That usually involves a combination of:

  1. Team doctors
  2. Sports physicians
  3. Physiotherapists
  4. Strength & conditioning staff
  5. Sports dietitians/nutritionists
  6. Sometimes pharmacists or sports scientists

Their role is partly about health and partly about compliance with anti-doping rules from organizations like the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

Typical responsibilities include:

  1. Checking whether a medication contains banned substances
  2. Looking for contamination risks in supplements
  3. Monitoring dosage and timing
  4. Preventing harmful interactions
  5. Making sure athletes have proper Therapeutic Use Exemptions (TUEs) if needed
  6. Keeping medical records and audit trails
  7. Advising on recovery aids, injections, IVs, and over-the-counter products

This matters because athletes can fail doping tests even if:

  1. a supplement was contaminated,
  2. a medication was prescribed outside sport,
  3. or they “didn’t know” a substance was prohibited.

Under most anti-doping rules, the athlete is still ultimately responsible for what enters their body (“strict liability”), so clubs create approval systems to reduce risk.

Many elite clubs require athletes to:

  1. submit every supplement for approval,
  2. only use club-provided products,
  3. report prescriptions immediately,
  4. and avoid buying random supplements online.

In top-level football, rugby, cycling, athletics, MMA, and Olympic sports, this process can be extremely strict.



Query;

What about URC teams ...the rugby league


Response:

Yes — URC clubs are generally very strict about this.

The United Rugby Championship itself follows the anti-doping framework of World Rugby and World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

At most professional URC teams, players are expected to clear:

  1. prescription medication,
  2. over-the-counter medicine,
  3. injections,
  4. supplements,
  5. vitamins,
  6. recovery products,
  7. and sometimes even energy drinks

through the club medical department before using them.

Typically the process involves:

  1. the team doctor,
  2. head physio,
  3. sports nutritionist,
  4. strength & conditioning staff,
  5. and sometimes a pharmacist or external anti-doping consultant.

Many teams maintain:

  1. approved supplement lists,
  2. preferred certified brands,
  3. medication databases,
  4. and logging systems for everything players take.

This is because rugby anti-doping rules use “strict liability”:

if a banned substance is found, the player is still responsible even if:

  1. the supplement was contaminated,
  2. the doctor made a mistake,
  3. or the product came from the club.

So elite rugby environments tend to be very cautious.

For example, World Rugby guidance specifically warns players:

  1. not to use random supplements,
  2. not to share supplements,
  3. and to only use vetted products/batches.

South African URC franchises like:

  1. Bulls
  2. Sharks
  3. Stormers
  4. Lions

all operate within the same SAIDS/WADA/World Rugby anti-doping structure.

In practice, players in those environments usually message the medical staff before taking anything new.


_____________________________________


So, as I said, the medical professionals failed in their duties and now Asenathi will miss the World Cup.


And he should sue them...bro

May 16, 2026, 17:36

Shame the critics blogging from NZ are desperate to find any excuse to find fault with the Springboks.

All one eyed pricks.


Pity that they cannot believe and accept the depth of Springbok rugby and the fantastic young players coming up from the junior ranks.


The talent pool for RSA is great while the NZ team is struggling with a Coach and quality players.


Shame, but just shows they are all biased ONE-EYE JACKS seeking any excuse for the thrashing of their once great All Blacks.


Unfortunately.



May 16, 2026, 18:34

It's called a dominance hangover, AJ.


They once had a good team and it's difficult for them to accept that they're now on par with France and the like.


Meanwhile the South Africans are churning out professionals like it's going out of fashion.



May 16, 2026, 18:53

While there is obviously no policy in Bok rugby to enhance performance with drugs, the fact that we are seeing a higher incidence suggests some sort of investigation should probably be made. For NZ it’s harder. When the Bok incumbent will be picked ahead of the AB incumbent more than two thirds of the time, it’s obviously a test level talent issue.


In terms of other factors, not being tested at forward in the club game has probably been the single most significant factor in NZ’s decline.

May 16, 2026, 19:24

Well he can sue them, nobody said he couldn't...not sure it will lift his ban though...


"This is because rugby anti-doping rules use strict liability:


if a banned substance is found, the player is still responsible even if:


1. the supplement was contaminated,

2. the doctor made a mistake,

3. or the product came from the club.


So elite rugby environments tend to be very cautious."


Your own ChatGPT research confirms this...


Ironically his possible legal case against the Lions medical team and his physician would have been so much stronger if he had taken personal responsibility first and checked what he was taking before taking it...a much stronger case for negligence.



May 16, 2026, 20:00

M, glad you established that Asenathi suing his physician and the Lions' medical team wouldn't magically nullify his ban.


A claim that nobody was making in the first place.







May 16, 2026, 20:10

Why should he cop a ban for their mistakes...your words. Not mine, Bro...

May 16, 2026, 22:38

Yes right - Fonged to the eye balls.

World rugby are catching up............

May 17, 2026, 00:48

Moz you’ve confused me!

What do you mean by “When the Bok incumbent will be picked ahead of the AB incumbent more than two thirds of the time”??

May 17, 2026, 01:19

...he means that if you were to select a combined Bok and AB side, 8 or less of the 23 would be All Blacks. And he's probably right.


BlackAndRed, it's just a numbers game. There are a ridiculous amount of schoolboys playing rugby in SA. And that number has grown drastically over the last ten years. Other counties are choosing from far smaller player pools. Schoolboy rugby here has become huge, it's televised now and seeing 20k spectators at a school game isn't out of ordinary.


If I get to select the strongest from 100 random Saffa guys and you to select the strongest from 1000 Kiwi guys, you're guy is likely gonna be stronger.


In Johannesburg alone, on a Saturday morning in winter, there are upward of a 150 schools fielding rugby teams. And some of those schools have teams from A to E at every grade.


AI seems to think that SA has 200% to 400% more schools teams playing rugby than New Zealand does. And that gap is widening.


But you guys have one huge advantage over us...IQ. And I don't know if that will ever change. Rassie has bucked the trend for now. But I can assure you the moment he leaves, some numbskull will takeover.


Look no further than this URC season as evidence that our coaching is abysmal.


Have a read of tonight's Lions match thread for evidence of what I am talking about.



May 17, 2026, 14:26

Well argued Plumpster. It's absurd that a player is banned after professionals have passed the medication being taken by the player. The professional should be penalized.

The wee AB supporters must realize Bok scrumming has always been good. We have always had big strong men. The Afrikaners have them in abundance.

But to make matters worse for wee abs we are these days getting powerful black forwards as well. Eg Ox.

It is clear that black players are particularly fast. Take a look at our sprinters winning on the Workd stage.

Plump I also agree about IQ. We have the occasional great coach but all too often they are average or worse.

But even here with so much professional rugby being played our coaches are improving.

I think the value being added to the Boks by black players these days increases our chances of being top dogs. Black talent hasn't been fully exploited yet either.

Right now we are at a difficult place. Our great RWC winning team has aged and our replacement are not fully on line and up to speed. But if anybody can negotiate this changing of the guard it's Rassie, unquestionably the greatest coach in world rugby. So we still have a chance of beating the wee abs but it could be tricky. But I admit I am not too well acquainted with AB rugby these days. Look forward to seeing the kiwi ballarinos in action.

Perhaps the most rediculous thing is these kiwi bird brains accusing us of cheating.

Nobody and I mean nobody has ever cheated as much as the wee abs. Think of the the whole get the Jarpie saga. The terrible bent down under refs. The main reason I was so glad we went north.

May 17, 2026, 21:34

Ah, we are getting close to the test match series between the Mighty Boks and the formerly good All Blacks.




May 17, 2026, 22:43

We will see won't we.

Talk is very cheap..............

May 17, 2026, 22:47

The inside information in South Africa is that Schools rugby is full of drugs.

Players having to take drugs to try and get ahead.


May 18, 2026, 08:28

Yes, it is, BR.


Something needs to be done about it. Not only for sport but also for the health of these kids. Some 15 year-old guy has almost zero life experience or ability to ensure that what he is getting is not some nasty shit that will mess him up. I don't think a kid should suffer for his entire life for a mistake he made when he was barely old enough to think for himself.


I don't think doping a major issue at pro level because the controls are very tight but at school level there has been a crisis brewing for some time.

May 18, 2026, 10:27

-


May 18, 2026, 10:46

Lots of Bok fans are very high on our own Kool-Aid.


Grace will always elude the worst winners.


I look forward to the games this year and know the ABs will be up for it.


That's enough for me.


...well, actually, not quite. Moz, Paks, Draad, Rooi and other regulars on the match forum will be required too.


Then I'll be happy.



May 20, 2026, 04:21

They are all black players that get caught doping. Makes quota rugby hard on these players and not many quality to chose from




Most notable, Chillie Boy, Ashanti, no Clubakanye. The list goes on.


The delusional SA rugby public think we have so much talent, however, the white population is shrinking, going abroad, most quality white players go abroad. They might not all be test players but they are better than those who have taken their places



It is very funny. Time ago, on this board, one speculation was made. SARU players caught for drugs abuse would be black skinned players.


It is happening. Another speculation turned into a prediction.


The cause is straightforward. SARU behaves the same way as drug traders.


Drugs traders and the customs offices have one best interest in common: both want the customs offices to appear as credible.


This leads drugs traders to sacrifice one share of their drugs to the customs offices by leaking the information themselves.


Either it is against the competition or their own. When a shipment is caught by the customs offices, the information came from the very own dudes who hired the transportation guys. They were given out.


SARU acted the same way: they sell out black skinned players to give credibility to testing done by the likes of Dr. M(Vovo (name taken from the board)


It is done openly by this very thread's admission: one black skinned player was drugged by his own staff and surprise, he was caught.


It is a public practise and as usual, liberals must look the other way. They must invent things in order to face situations.

May 20, 2026, 14:55

Absolutely no accountability... always somebody else's fault.

May 22, 2026, 17:15

No accountability... That is the term. Liberals' wet dream.


No accountability, wrecked South Africa. Liberals called it reconciliation or something.


The SARU behaviour was predicted on this board. Same stuff as drugs traders and no accountability.


A Trump is needed in South Africa, guy will start bombing drugs traders and terminate rugby in South Africa as a responsible leader must do.


May 22, 2026, 19:54

Rugby is one of the few things that still works in South Africa despite the ANCs efforts to destroy it...go figure you're all for it too...typical of your ilk...spoil it for everyone...

May 29, 2026, 04:28

The ANC trying to destroy rugby in South Africa....


That is a good one.


Words have consequences.


If indeed the ANC have been trying to destroy rugby, that paints them as a very inept side at destruction.


Or they have kept working on keeping alive something that must be terminated and will get terminated any way. No matter how hard the ANC keeps trying to support this dead man walking SARU is, they will eventually fail. It does not mean they have not tried.


It is very funny. It shows by the way how white people have grown to assume they are the only humanity.


A guy from the majority of the population was drugged in order to work as a decoy for a minority of the population.


Where else this kind of stuff could work?


Certainly not in white liberal countries.

May 29, 2026, 05:18

Nope...you don't seem to understand the perseverance of those who really love rugby in South Africa...we exel at beating the odds...

 
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