FRIDAY, 12.00NOON:
SPRINGBOK lock Johan Ackermann and two Gauteng Lions players, Bennie Nortje and Stephan Bronkhorst, were yesterday given two-year suspensions by a SA Rugby Football Union disciplinary inquiry for using anabolic steroids.
Ackermann, one of the Blue Bulls’ highest-paid players, indicated he will lodge an appeal, citing “improper testing procedures”.
The hearing was delayed earlier this week while Sarfu called “mystery witness” Kirsty Rolfe, of the Sports Sciences Institute, who conducted the drug tests in early February. Sarfu doping tribunal chairman advocate Jannie Lubbe said after the hearing that all three had tested positive for the steroid nandrolone. He added the offence carries an automatic two-year ban.
Sarfu CEO Rian Oberholzer said the finding of the inquiry will send out a clear message to all SA rugby players that drugs will not be tolerated. “I am sorry that three players have had two years taken out of their careers, but we cannot and will not tolerate these infringements,” he said. He added that Sarfu will continue “to weed out any more drug cheats”.