Drug shock overwhelms WP fête
What was mean to be a day of celebration has turned into a very somber mood at the Western Province and Stormers headquarters.
It was confirmed on Tuesday that Stormers and WP lock Gerbrandt Grobler had failed a drug test.
This came just hours before a media conference that would reveal the new coaching set-up at the Cape Town-based outfits – with Allister Coetzee to depart at the end of the Super Rugby season and John Dobson named as the Currie Cup coach.
However, the Grobler saga has cast a pall of gloom over the region.
Khalid Galant, the Chief Executive Officer at the SA Institute for Drug-Free Sport, confirmed to rugby365 that Grobler has been slapped with a two-year ban for the use of an anabolic steroid – Drostanolone.
"He admitted guilt after testing positive during an in-competition test," Galant said, adding that the tests were conducted during the Currie Cup season in October last year.
The lock's ban, which will run until September 2016, comes in the wake of dispatches from the Stormers camp that Grobler had a "health issue".
Galant told rugby365 that there will be no hearing, because the player admitted guilt as part of the "settlement" reached with SAIDS.
"The new world anti-doping code that came into affect now in January means he can start training with his teammates – if he so wishes – three months before the end of the ban," Galant said.
"However, he can only start playing again in October 2016 – if he so wishes and is selected."
So far there has been no official comment from the Western Province Rugby Union or the Stormers, although this could be addressed at the media briefing planned for lunchtime on Tuesday.
The player also informed his Stormers/WP teammates of his guilty pleas on Monday.
The 23-year-old utility forward was sidelined for most of last year with a broken ankle – missing the entire Super Rugby season and only returning in the latter stages of the Currie Cup competition.
He featured in WP's win over the Golden Lions in the Currie Cup Final at Newlands in October last year, with some reports suggesting Grobler opted to use the banned substance with a view to speeding up his recovery.
His ban will cause further concern in the Stormers camp, who this week lost two key locks – Springbok Eben Etzebeth and Argentine international Manuel Carizza – to injury.
Etzebeth will be sidelined for four weeks, after taking a heavy knock to the chest in a pre-season win over the Cheetahs last Friday, while Carizza will miss the next three weeks of action as a result of a shoulder complaint.
WP Rugby issued a statement late on Tuesday, also confirming the positive test.
"WP Rugby can confirm that lock Gerbrandt Grobler tested positive for a banned substance during the 2014 Currie Cup tournament," the statement said.
"Up until now, given the sensitive nature of the allegations, WP Rugby was unable to comment on the matter.
"However, as of this morning [Tuesday, February 3], Grobler signed an admission of guilt after choosing not to contest the case against him and, thus accept, the sanctions and punishment [a two-year ban] handed down to him for testing positive for the steroid, Drostanolone.
"A remorseful Grobler has also taken full responsibility for his actions.
"WP Rugby has and will continue to educate its players about using only approved supplements. We will also continue to promote drug-free sport and assist the SA Institute for Drug-Free Sport wherever possible."
By Jan de Koning
@King365ed
@rugby365com
