Former Springboks hooker handed 8-year ban for doping
Former South Africa international Mahlatse 'Chiliboy' Ralepelle has been handed an eight-year ban for doping which could spell the end of his career. The hooker's ban was confirmed by the South Africa Institute for Drug Free Sport (SAIDS) after he tested positive for a banned anabolic agent in January 2019.
Ralepelle was subject to a random check at the Sharks last year, where he tested positive for Zeranol. He also had two positive drug tests in 2010 and 2014.
Ralepelle, who previously played for the Bulls and French side Toulouse, has 21 days to file an appeal against the sanction, which was detailed in a statement issued by SAIDS.
At 33, the ban will likely spell the end of his disgraced career.
"The Independent Doping Tribunal Panel handed down its decision in two parts this week on the doping charge against former Springbok and Sharks rugby player, Mahlatse “Chiliboy” Ralepelle," the statement read.
"The player tested positive for the banned anabolic agent, Zeranol, during an out-of-competition test on the 17th January 2019.
"The athlete challenged the doping charge and was afforded the opportunity to seek legal counsel to present his case and version of events to the tribunal panel.
"The hearings were adjourned multiple times and were held over a period of six months. The panel reached a decision first on the merits of the case where they found the player guilty of a doping offense.
"Ralepelle had previously tested positive on two separate occasions while playing overseas.
"The Zeranol positive case was his third positive dope test during his playing career within a 10 year period, however the player’s first positive case was ruled a No Fault decision and he then received a reprimand. The panel had to refer to sports jurisprudence to determine the appropriate sanction which they ruled to be the player’s second doping offense.
"The Independent Doping Tribunal Panel ruled that Mr Ralepelle must serve an eight-year ban for doping. The ban will expire on the 27th January 2027. The player has 21 days within which to file an appeal against the sanction."
Ralepelle won the last of his 25 international caps in a 25-10 defeat to England in Cape Town in June 2018.
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Nah, that just needs some more variation. Chip kicks, grubber stabs, all those. Will Jordan showed a pretty good reason why the rush was bad for his link up with BB.
If you have an overlap on a rush defense, they naturally cover out and out and leave a huge gap near the ruck.
It also helps if both teams play the same rules. ARs set the offside line 1m past where the last mans feet were😅
Go to commentsYeah nar, should work for sure. I was just asking why would you do it that way?
It could be achieved by outsourcing all your IP and players to New Zealand, Japan, and America, with a big Super competition between those countries raking it in with all of Australia's best talent to help them at a club level. When there is enough of a following and players coming through internally, and from other international countries (starting out like Australia/without a pro scene), for these high profile clubs to compete without a heavy australian base, then RA could use all the money they'd saved over the decades to turn things around at home and fund 4 super sides of their own that would be good enough to compete.
That sounds like a great model to reset the game in Aus. Take a couple of decades to invest in youth and community networks before trying to become professional again. I just suggest most aussies would be a bit more optimistic they can make it work without the two decades without any pro club rugby bit.
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