Former Springbok Hooker Mahlatse Ralepelle Banned For Doping

Former Springbok hooker Mahlatse Chiliboy Ralepelle has been suspended for eight years for doping, South Africa’s Institute for Drug-free Sport announced Wednesday.

Chiliboy had been previously served a two-year suspension between 2014 and 2016 following a positive out-of-competition test while at Toulouse.

The 33-year-old’s latest ban follows six months of hearings that came 18 months after testing positive for a banned substance.

Chiliboy had challenged the charge after the Institute of Drug-free Sport found that he had used banned anabolic agent Zeranol.

“The athlete challenged the doping charge and was afforded the opportunity to seek legal counsel to present his case and version of events to the Independent Doping Tribunal Panel,” the body said in a statement.

“The hearings were adjourned multiple times and were held over a period of six months. The panel reached a decision first on the merits of the case where they found the player guilty of a doping offence.

“The Zeranol positive case was his third positive dope test during his playing career within a 10-year period. However, the player’s first positive case was ruled a ‘no-fault decision’ and he then received a reprimand.”

That positive test was at the end of the Springboks’ year-end tour to Europe in 2010.

“The panel had to refer to sports jurisprudence to determine the appropriate sanction which they ruled to be the player’s second doping offence,” it added.

Chiliboy played in 25 Tests for South Africa and his last appearance was against England in 2018.

Meanwhile, Springboks winger Aphiwe Dyantyi, who is currently banned following a failed drugs test in August 2019, is set to learn his fate in the next two months.