The Dale College Old Boys Union has released a statement in support of Aphiwe Dyantyi following the wing’s positive test for banned substances.
Many South Africans’ worst fears were confirmed when it was announced last Friday that Dyantyi’s B sample had also returned a finding of the banned substances metandienone, methyltestosterone and LGD-4033. Dyantyi has been formally charged with a doping offence for multiple anabolic steroids and metabolites and faces a potential four-year ban.
Dyantyi was schooled at Dale College between 2007 and 2012 and played for Border at the U13 Craven Week, but did not make the school’s 1st XV during his matric year.
In a statement released on Facebook, Old Dalian Union president Sinethemba Tsipa said the school will continue to offer their full support to the Springbok.
‘Ours is as a union of former students of Dale College Boys High School, incorporated to specifically assist, where possible, the welfare of our own as they journey into the real world and maintain the camaraderie of our school among our graduates,’ the statement reads. ‘The real world has always and continues to be an area where the young need support, continuously. Mr Dyantyi is an Old Dalian, having studied all of his High School years in our school, hailing from Ngcobo town in the erstwhile Transkei. He is manifestly black and underprivileged, from parents who care about education!
‘He is one of our best who have paid true to our values, and linking sport to national duty, jointly with others such as Keegan Daniel, Lubabalo Mthembu and Aphelele Fassi. We do not specialise in medicine nor the regulatory affairs of commercial sport; experts have made an informed decision and have found Aphiwe to have used a banned substance. A reality we cannot run away from is that Aphiwe has been found guilty; the Old Dalian Union does not promote the usage of banned substances in any sport.
‘We are a proud school that produces young men for our country, to excel, prosper and motivate others. We are a public school; our values derive from uBuntu of the normal South African. We do not know why and how Aphiwe Dyantyi tested positive for the banned substance, however we have accepted the verdict and we will continue to support Aphiwe Dyantyi as an Old Dalian.
‘Given Aphiwe’s commitment to being a brother, son and national ambassador, Mr Dyantyi is the first player to pay homage to iGwijo squad, being true to his rural heritage and the Dale College spirit of togetherness.
‘He is the first to acknowledge his older brothers and their influence on him professionally. Proof of his humility. He has been true to the values of the school and excelling in the field of rugby at such a young age. He is one of a few Springboks that are already a university graduate; he is a leader in sportsmen having professional lives after sport.’
Photo: Sydney Mahlangu/ BackpagePix
