Springbok Flyhalf Elton Jantjies Banned from Rugby for Four Years for Doping

South Africa’s rugby community was rocked today as it was revealed that Springbok flyhalf Elton Jantjies has been banned from playing the sport for four years. The ban comes after Jantjies tested positive for the prohibited substance Clenbuterol in August 2023. The announcement was made by the South African Institute for Drug Free Sport (SAIDS) and confirmed by SAIDS CEO Khalid Galant and news outlet News24.

Jantjies, a crucial member of the 2019 Rugby World Cup-winning Springbok team, had previously vowed to prove his innocence. Unfortunately, the window for any potential appeal from Jantjies has now expired, making this a potentially career-ending development for the talented flyhalf.

This ban is not the first controversy to surround Jantjies. In mid-2022, he was arrested and charged with malicious damage to property and a contravention of the Aviation Act following an incident on an Emirates flight at OR Tambo International in Johannesburg. Although the charges were later dropped, it further contributed to the polarising nature of Jantjies’ public image.

Later in the same year, Jantjies faced allegations of having an affair with Springbok team dietician Zeenat Simjee. Both Jantjies and Simjee denied the accusations, but it added to the already tumultuous year for the player.

Throughout his career, Jantjies’s on-field performances made him one of South Africa’s most renowned playmaking flyhalves. He played a vital role in leading the Lions to three consecutive Super Rugby finals between 2015 and 2017. He also served as the second-choice flyhalf behind Handre Pollard during the Springboks’ successful World Cup campaign in 2019.