South African Rugby issue statement after Elton Jantjies doping ban
The South African Rugby Union have responded to the news that Springboks fly-half Elton Jantjies has been banned for four years for a failed drugs test.
The South African Institute for Drug-Free Sports (SAIDS) announced on their website on Thursday that the 33-year-old has been banned for four years after testing positive for the prohibited substance Clenbuterol (a fat-burning and asthma medication that also enhances a user's stamina) on 20 June 2023.
Though the 46-cap Springbok is not contracted to SA Rugby, having been contracted to Agen in France's Pro D2 since November 2022, CEO Rian Oberholzer issued a statement shortly after Jantjies' ban was announced condemning drug use in rugby.
The statement reads: "The South African Rugby Union wholly supports clean sport and maintains that there is absolutely no place in rugby for doping. We have trust in the processes and outcomes followed by the independent anti-doping agencies, whose job it is to support sports in keeping the game clean."
Jantjies had been called into South Africa's training squad in June last year as injury cover for Handre Pollard, but curiously made neither their Rugby Championship squad nor their World Cup squad. He issued a statement soon after explaining what had happened, while insisting his innocence. He said: “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.”
A spokesperson for Jantjies has already issued a statement in response to the ban, saying: “Elton would prefer not to engage with the media and his legal team are working on the case/appeal. Yes he is aware of the sanction.”
Latest Comments
All of these media pundits always miss the obvious whenever they analyse what is ailing or assisting the game. Rugby always has contentious points for debate when picking apart individual games and finding fault with itself. All this focus and scrutiny on “speeding up the game”, “high ball in play” etc is all contextual to the fan. As a tv viewer, if you’re absorbed into a game, regardless if your team is playing or not, more ball in play time and action are all byproducts of the contest. A good contest subliminally affects your memory in selectively remembering all the good aspects. A poor contest and your brain has switched off because its a blowout and the result is never in doubt or it’s a real chore to watch and remain engaged throughout. The URC, Top 14 and English premiership are all competitions that feel like there’s real jeopardy each week. The dominance of Super rugby by NZ teams was unhealthy from a sustainable interest perspective. You can’t fault those teams or the players, but the lack of competitions won by SA and Australian teams long term was always going to test the faith and patience of die-hard and casual fans from those regions. SANZAR took their eye off the fans and fans voted with their feet and subscriptions. They were so concerned about expanding their product they forgot the golden rule about broadcasting live sport. Viewers tune in more when there’s an atmosphere and a true contest. You need to fill stadiums to create one, host unions need to do more to service ticket buyers, and this year proves the other, there’s more interest in Super rugby this year only because more games are competitive with less foregone conclusions. All these micro statistics bandied about, only interest the bean counters and trainspotters.
Go to commentsIt’s a good, timely wake up call for NZ Rugby (seem to be a few of them lately!) - sort out the bureaucratic nonsense at board level. We can’t expect to stay the number one option without keeping fans/players engaged. We’ve obviously been bleeding players to league for years but can’t let the floodgates open (although I think this headline is hyperbolic as it’s a result of a recent Warriors pathways system where they are tracking things more closely) Understand the need to focus boys on rugby if they’re at a proud rugby school too, don’t think it’s harsh at all re Barakat in Hamilton. Reward the committed players with squad positions. An elite 1st XV system in NZ has done more for league than they even realise, think it’s good to protect our game further.
Go to comments