CONFIRMED: The charges and products in Bok's doping case
UPDATE: Springbok prop Asenathi Ntlabakanye has formally been hit with two doping charges, not just one.
Khalid Galant, Chief Executive Officer of the South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport, confirmed to @rugby365com that they issued the 26-year-old with a ‘charge letter’ on Wednesday.
“We charged the athlete with two anti-doping rule violations,” the SAIDS boss said.
“One charge for specified substance [anastrozole] and the other charge for unspecified substance [DHEA].”
Galant reiterated that the player is still not suspended.
That means, while he is now facing a formal hearing and a potentially lengthy ban, he is still available for selection – both at franchise and international level.
Confirmation of the second charge comes after media outlets reported that there was an additional transgression to the one the South African Rugby Union revealed last month.
In a statement issued on August 24, SARU said Ntlabakanye has provided an ‘adverse analytical finding’ during random testing.
They also revealed that the player disputes that he has committed an anti-doping violation.
SARU pointed the finger at an unnamed medical practitioner specifically appointed to manage the medical affairs of professional players.
However, it now appears that Ntlabakanye’s honesty was his own downfall, as he was “transparent in his declarations” and listed the unspecified (performance-enhancing) substance on his documentation.
According to the World Anti-Doping Agency, anastrozole is on the banned list.
It is commonly used to treat certain types of cancer, but may also be used for other conditions. Anastrozole belongs to a class of medicines called aromatase inhibitors. It works by blocking an enzyme called aromatase that helps produce estrogen in the body.
However, DHEA is a very different story.
According to the WADA website it is generally accepted that dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) use enhances physical performance.
From the WADA website:
‘DHEA is a weak androgen that needs conversion to more potent testosterone, and the assumption is that athletes expect a significant increase in circulating testosterone through exogenous DHEA administration, with a subsequent improvement in performance. The literature on the ergogenic effects of DHEA intake is nevertheless very scant, and to our knowledge, none of the studies has presented evidence that DHEA use improves athletic performance.’
The SARU statement on Sunday, August 24
Asenathi Ntlabakanye adverse analytic finding
Media are advised that Springbok prop forward Asenathi Ntlabakanye has provided an “adverse analytical finding” during random testing by the South African Institute for Drug Free Sport (SAIDS).
1. Ntlabakanye disputes that he has committed an anti-doping violation.
2. The non-performance enhancing substance for which he tested positive was prescribed by a specialist physician early in 2025 for medical reasons and taken with the approval and the supervision of a medical doctor specifically appointed to manage the medical affairs of professional rugby players.
3. Ntlabakanye was transparent in his declarations, acted in good faith and at all times followed the medical due process as prescribed by the industry. He relied on the relevant professional medical advice and at no time did he seek to obtain an unfair advantage nor did he take any medical substance without prior medical authorisation.
4. Ntlabakanye will not be considered for the forthcoming tour to New Zealand to allow the player to concentrate on defending the case.
A lengthy ban will have a huge impact on the player’s career, as he has been battling weight issues throughout his senior career.
Earlier this year, he lost 20 kilograms, which was ascribed to vigorous training sessions with scrum coach Daan Human.
Exactly why a doctor(s) would have prescribed a professional player banned substances remains a mystery.
@king365ed
@rugby365com
