Rugby: Bjorn Basson and Chiliboy Ralepelle have returned to South Africa after testing positive for a banned substance following the Springboks 23-21 win over Ireland in Dublin earlier this month. The players tested positive for the stimulant methylhexaneamine.
Both players have been provisionally suspended from all rugby activities pending the results of their ‘B’ samples and have already left the touring Springboks party.The tests were undertaken by Six Nations Rugby Ltd, who are administering all matches in the November series of rugby internationals.
Basson started on the wing in the match at the Aviva Stadium while reserve hooker Ralepelle was an unused replacement. Basson also started in Saturday's 29-25 win over Wales while Ralepelle was introduced late in the game.
The pair were the only two Springboks selected for random testing after the Ireland match and South Africa coach Pieter de Villiers is concerned other members of his squad may have unwittingly taken the banned substance.
“We have done quite a bit already, we are busy sending stuff for testing,” he said today. “Obviously we have to look at what might have caused this and we don’t want to put the players at risk. If there is something that we are taking as a squad that might have caused this then we must find that out now.
“When I informed the two players that they had been tested positive they were both extremely shocked and disappointed. The rest of the team were also gutted when they heard. I was informed of this at 2am this morning, and now we must follow the correct processes as laid down by the IRB.”
Methylhexaneamine, which has been used by sprinters in athletics, is listed on the World Anti-Doping Agency's banned list as a "non-specified stimulant" and is due to be reclassified as a "specified stimulant" from January 1st of next year.
The Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority wrote to athletes across a range of sports in October to warn them of the unintentional use of the banned substance after nine Australians tested positive.
Free State under-21 player Johan Goosen tested positive for the same stimulant earlier this year and was banned from rugby for three months by a South Africa Rugby Union judicial panel.