Bok Dyantyi could face four-year ban

Springbok and Lions winger Aphiwe Dyantyi faces the prospect of a minimum fouryear ban if the substance in his system is an anabolic steroid.

Dyantyi announced in a statement on Saturday that he had tested positive for a banned substance while he was part of the Springbok camps in the lead-up to the Rugby Championship.

Dyantyi, who has denied taking a banned substance, has vowed to clear his name.

South African Institute of Drug Free Sports CEO Khalid Galant said the World AntiDoping Agency (Wada) had settled on the four-year ban for anabolic steroids because of the benefits an athlete gets from performance enhancing substances.

“Previously‚ it used to be two years‚ but the world antidoping code was adjusted in 2015.

“That year‚ the ban was increased to four years and that was largely because science looked at the benefit accrued from the use of anabolic steroids or doping‚” he said.

“Quite a few athletes wanted a lifetime ban‚ but the compromise was a four-year ban.

“Sport cycles work in four years because of Olympics and World Cups‚ so that’s the context of the four-year ban.”

Dyantyi was also reported to have suffered a hamstring injury which ruled him out of the Rugby Championship.

On Monday‚ Springbok coach Johan “Rassie” Erasmus insisted that Dyantyi was never in his plans for the World Cup and his lack of game time had counted against him.

Dyantyi’s B sample was analysed on Tuesday morning and if it comes back positive‚ he could either plead guilty or take matters further by not pleading guilty‚ which would then lead to a hearing.

“In the case where the athlete tests positive for something‚ the athlete is notified but the B sample test is optional,” Galant said, adding it was used as “a confirmation”. –