South Africa have once again been involved in a potentially harmful situation involving their players and drug use, with their governing body, SA Rugby, responding to claims that several of the South African squad have tested positive for cocaine.
SA Rugby Magazine are reporting that South African Sunday newspaper, Rapport, is ready to publish a story on the positive cases.
South Africa Rugby Responds
SA Rugby have strongly denied the allegations in the following statement:
SA Rugby is aware that unsubstantiated allegations of failed tests for recreational drugs by Springbok players are circulating among members of the media. Disappointingly, these allegations have already appeared online despite the absence of any evidence to support them.
SA Rugby has consistently advised all inquiring media that no such reports have been received by SA Rugby or any player from the only authority permitted to perform such tests, the South African Institute for Drug Free Sport. SA Rugby does not conduct its own tests.
Despite the absence of any such reports, players and management in Argentina have been contacted to “tell their story”, distracting and destabilising the entire camp in the build-up today’s Test against Argentina in Buenos Aires.
SA Rugby wishes to repeat that it has no evidence of any adverse analytical findings for any kind of drug – be it performance enhancing or recreational – by Springbok players and regards the publication or the threat to publish such allegations as a deliberate attempt to sabotage the team’s preparations.
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The Elton Jantjies saga looks set to be overshadowed by an explosive report claiming drug abuse in the Bok camp, amid SA Rugby's attempts to keep the matter under wraps. https://t.co/QyEaxIPaXJ
— SA Rugby magazine (@SARugbymag) September 17, 2022
At this stage, while they are just allegations, however, they could very well have an affect on the players and the camp in the run up to tonight's Rugby Championship game away to Argentina.
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