In the immediate aftermath of Bok winger Bjorn Basson and reserve hooker Chiliboy Ralepelle testing positive for the banned substance methylhexaneamine, the Bok camp was reportedly thrown into chaos.
What a debut tour for some of the younger men in the squad . . . and unfortunately for all the wrong reasons.
Coach Pieter de Villiers said his management and medical team, including team doctor Craig Roberts, were working around the clock to try to determine the source of the contamination of the two players.
Fear of more positive Bok tests
Roberts, who has extensive experience with the Sharks and latterly the Boks, has added motivation to find out how methylhexaneamine found its way into Ralepelle and Basson’s systems, as he too could face sanction for the alleged transgression of the rules.
Roberts confirmed to Sport24 that both players were on medication for flu symptoms, but stressed that the medication they were on has been in use for a long time without there being any problems.
“In terms of the IRB doping regulations the sanctions are less severe for this particular substance, it is one of those substances everyone appears to be having a bit of difficulty deciding about,” he said.
The Bok management team has said every possible avenue is being investigated, including sending the team’s energy drinks for scientific testing. This is taken as a precaution due to an understandable fear that other members of the squad might also have the banned substance in their system.
Searching for the source of the contamination has rightly been compared to searching for a needle in a haystack, as every item, particularly liquids, needs to be analysed. Ralepelle and Basson’s “B” samples offer some hope of redemption, but were they to fail that test, the pair would face a two-year ban (the World Anti Doping Agency’s recommended sentence for a non-specified substance).
Now what the Boks must fear more than anything else is that more players test positive in the days and weeks to come. Let’s hold thumbs for our team that this is not the case.
In the meanwhile the rest of the Bok squad needs to put the methylhexaneamine saga behind them and get properly prepared for this week’s Test match against Scotland. Coach Pieter de Villiers has hinted that he may make a few changes and give some of the players who’ve sat on the sidelines a run. Does this mean a start for local hero, 20-year-old Patrick Lambie, or fellow Shark Keegan Daniel at flank. One Sharks player who looks certain to get a start is highly rated wing Lwazi Mvovo now that Basson’s tour has come to a premature end.