COMMENT
Eyebrows have been raised in some quarters after Asenathi Ntlabakanye was added to the Springbok squad in Paris in spite of being under a doping cloud. Still, the bottom line is that the South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport (SAIDS) has cleared the big fellow to play until his hearing in January.
It is an unusual case because, while Ntlabakanye tested positive for a performance-enhancing substance, SAIDS is satisfied that he was a victim of medical mismanagement. In short, Ntlabakanye received bad advice when he asked for a prescription for a drug to assist with his weight problem.
In early September, SAIDS charged Ntlabakanye for taking dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), which he had declared on a medical form. DHEA can increase the body’s androgen levels, such as testosterone. Androgens have muscle-building effects, and DHEA is considered to have the potential to enhance athletic performance.
Ntlabakanye listed the drugs he was on during a routine test. He had cleared the prescription with the endocrinologist he had seen as he looked to shed weight.
Here is the ironic part: Ntlabakanye’s sample was clear of DHEA, but because he had admitted taking it, he was charged. Sometimes, honesty is not the best policy. However, SAIDS seems to have sympathy for him because, usually, a player is automatically suspended.
Ntlabakanye resumed playing a month ago for the Lions in the United Rugby Championship and, at the weekend, played for the Barbarians against an All Blacks XV in Bedford, England.
He joined the Bok squad early on Sunday morning following their big win over Japan in London. He replaces the unfortunate Oc Nche, who has returned to South Africa with a serious knee injury.
The loss of Nche is a blow to coach Rassie Erasmus ahead of this week’s mega clash with France, as he has been dominating opposition props all season. The Boks have enjoyed a steady flow of scrum penalties in their matches, with Nche doing the business in the first half and Wilco Louw in the second.
Erasmus has Boan Venter on tour, and he is likely to replace Nche at the Stade de France. Venter has played five Tests this year and started in the Boks’ epic performance against Argentina in Durban.
It is fortuitous, too, that Gerhard Steenekamp returned to Springbok duty after a year of rehab on the weekend Nche was injured. He scrummed well and is likely to be the bench back-up for Venter.
Ntlabakanye was not the only prop to join the Bok squad as they headed to Paris. Thomas du Toit could not play against Japan, as the game fell outside the international window, and his English club, Bath, would not release him.
Du Toit is equally at home on both sides of the front row, but Erasmus has been using him as tighthead this year.
Thanks to Erasmus’ policy of growing depth by rotating players, he has good options at loosehead. Still, he will be furious that he doesn’t have the services of Jan-Hendrik Wessels, who has been controversially banned for eight matches by a URC judicial hearing.
Wessels is the perfect front-row hybrid player — equally good at prop and hooker. His absence from the Bok tour is a setback, as he covers more than one position off the bench.
On Monday, assistant coach Felix Jones waded into the debate in Paris.
“I’m not going to comment on a case that’s ongoing at the moment,” the Irishman said.
“I’m not sure the world knows about it yet, but his skill set is actually incredibly impressive. He is a very dynamic player, and he can get around for a guy who can handle himself in the scrum or on the ball,” he added.
