Sbu Nkosi Faces Career-Defining Doping Allegations

In a shocking development for South African rugby, Sbu Nkosi, the talented winger of the Springboks, finds himself at a crossroads in his professional career, with reports emerging of a positive test for a banned substance. Nkosi, who was part of the victorious Springboks squad in the 2019 Rugby World Cup, did not appear on the team sheet for the Cheetahs‘ recent Currie Cup fixture against the Bulls at Loftus, prompting speculation that he may have played his last match.

According to a comprehensive report from the respected South African publication, Rapport, Nkosi was subjected to testing by World Rugby alongside three other Rugby players during May this year. Sources indicate that his A sample returned positive results for anabolic steroids, substances typically utilized by athletes seeking performance enhancements.

If his B sample corroborates the findings, Nkosi could be facing a substantial suspension that could extend up to four years—a grim reality considering that instances where the A sample yields positive results while the B sample does not are exceedingly rare.

Inquiries made to the South African Institute for Drug-Free Sports (Saids) elicited minimal responses, with CEO Khalid Galant stating, «Please contact World Rugby about this matter.» He emphasized that although his organization occasionally conducts tests on behalf of World Rugby in South Africa, he was unable to discuss specifics relating to World Rugby’s authority. Attempts to garner further comments from World Rugby also went unanswered.

This turn of events comes as a significant setback in Nkosi’s career, particularly as he had been grappling for form following his transition from the Sharks to the Bulls in 2022. The winger had expressed dissatisfaction with the Bulls management publicly in late 2022, feeling ‘judged’ by the franchise’s leadership, which consists of director of rugby.

Following a period away from the competitive scene, Nkosi attempted to revitalize his playing career under former teammate Frans Steyn, who is now the director of rugby for the Cheetahs. Steyn brought Nkosi into the fold ahead of the upcoming 2024 Currie Cup season, granting him a second chance to excel.

Reports suggest Nkosi is classified under a PONI (Player of National Interest) contract, whereby SA Rugby contributes a portion of his monthly salary. Furthermore, it is noted that the Cheetahs have shown unwavering support for Nkosi, a testament to their belief in his potential, having even assisted him financially when he purchased his residence in Bloemfontein by deducting mortgage payments from his salary.

Sbu Nkosi first donned the Springboks jersey in 2018 when he faced England. Throughout his international career, he participated in 16 Test matches, recording nine tries, with his last appearance occurring in 2021 against New Zealand in Australia.

This troubling incident places Nkosi in a group of Springbok players facing similar doping allegations. Nkosi becomes the fourth member of the national team since 2019 to test positive for prohibited substances, following in the footsteps of Aphiwe Dyantyi, Chiliboy Ralepelle, and Elton Jantjies. Dyantyi was able to return to the sport after serving a four-year ban between 2019 and 2023, while Ralepelle’s playing career was effectively terminated after an eight-year ban in 2019 for testing positive for Zeranol. Jantjies, on the other hand, is presently contesting a four-year suspension that was imposed earlier this year.

This pivotal moment in Nkosi’s career raises crucial questions about the integrity of sport and the pressures that athletes face in their pursuit of excellence, a story that continues to unfold as the rugby community awaits further updates on this alarming situation.