Rugby 2019 | Springboks star Aphiwe Dyantyi faces four-year ban after positive drug test

A South African rugby union player and Test player is facing a long-term ban after a positive drug test, despite pleading his innocence.

Aphiwe Dyantyi won the 2018 World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year award.

Springbok winger Aphiwe Dyantyi is facing a four year ban after his B sample tested positive for banned substances, the South African Institute for Drug Free Sport said Friday.

It was disclosed last weekend that the 2018 Rugby World Breakthrough Player of the Year had tested positive after a Springbok training camp in July.

Dyantyi, who missed out on a chance of selection for the Rugby World Cup in Japan this month because of a hamstring injury, insisted he had not taken any banned substance and requested a B sample test.

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The substances reportedly included metandienone, methyltestosterone and LGD-4033.

“I want to deny ever taking any prohibited substance, intentionally or negligently, to enhance my performance on the field,” he said after the A sample result was disclosed.

“I have never cheated and never will. The presence of this prohibited substance in my body has come as a massive shock to me.”

Dyantyi tries to tackle Australia's David Pocock.

The 24-year-old wing from the Golden Lions club in Johannesburg can accept the charge and plea for a reduced sanction or appeal before an independent tribunal panel.

Should he plea not guilty, there will be a hearing within four weeks and Dyantyi must provide evidence that proves his innocence.

He has pleaded his innocence since he found out he had a failed test on August 13, from a sample taken on July 2.

The South African Rugby Union said in a statement: “SA Rugby, the Lions Rugby Company and Dyantyi are working with Saids, the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) and all other relevant authorities on the matter and no further comment can be made at this stage.”

Dyantyi has played 13 Test matches and scored six tries for the Springboks.

He has not featured for South Africa since November 2018, however, and was not picked in head coach Rassie Erasmus’s squad for the Rugby World Cup due to the injury concerns.