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Bok bombshell: Elton Jantjies issues statement as true cause of absence emerges
By Rugby365
The real reason for Elton Jantjies’ departure from the Springbok team has been revealed. In a development that is likely to end his playing career, the 33-year-old South African confirmed that he tested positive for a banned substance.
The revelation was contained in a statement Jantjies release through his lawyer Barend Kellerman.
A spate of injuries among the Bok flyhalves resulted in a call-up for Jantjies to the Rugby Championship training squad in June – as cover at No.10.
However, he neither made the final Rugby Championship nor the subsequent World Cup cut.
His absence was never adequately explained – until now.
“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,” Jantjies said in a statement issued on Saturday.
“I have instructed legal representation to assist me in determining the source of the prohibited substance and I have instructed them to ask for my B Sample to be tested and to launch an inquiry into the possible causes for the positive test.”
The 46-times capped Bok denied that he ever ‘deliberately’ took a banned substance.
“I will do everything in my power to prove my innocence.”
The latest development comes after a series of setbacks – including his arrest for causing damage on an international flight and returning home from the Bok camp after an alleged affair with team dietician Zeenat Simjee.
“This is another setback in what has been a very volatile time for me,” he said, adding: “I shall overcome this with the support of my family and friends.
“I know that there will be those out there who doubt my innocence, but I hope to prove you wrong, in due course.
“For those who support me, thank you.”
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Both cards were harsh. Yet again highlighting rugby's inconsistencies and the absurd effect of cards
Go to commentsWhile all this is going on… I’ve been thinking more about the NFL draft system and how to make the commercial elements of the game more sustainable for SA teams who precariously live on the fringe of these developments. SA teams play in Europe now, and are welcome, because there’s a novelty to it. SA certainly doesn’t bring the bucks (like a Japan would to SR) but they bring eyes to it. But if they don’t perform (because they don’t have the money like the big clubs) - it’s easy come easy go… I think there is an element of strategic drafting going on in SA. Where the best players (assets) are sort of distributed amongst the major teams. It’s why we’re seeing Moodie at the Bulls for example and not at his homegrown Western Province. 20-30 years ago, it was all about playing for your province of birth. That has clearly changed in the modern era. Maybe Moodie couldn’t stay in the cape because at the time the Stormers were broke? Or had too many good players to fit him in? Kistchoff’s sabbatical to Ireland and back had financial benefits. Now they can afford him again (I would guess). What I am getting at is - I think SA Rugby needs to have a very strong strategy around how teams equitably share good youth players out of the youth structures. That is SA’s strong point - a good supply of good players out of our schools and varsities. It doesn’t need to be the spectacle we see out of the states, but a system where SA teams and SA rugby decide on where to draft youth, how to fund this and how to make it that it were possible for a team like the Cheetahs (for example) to end up with a team of young stars and win! This is the investment and thinking that needs to be happening at grassroots to sustain the monster meanwhile being created at the top.
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