SA Rugby magazine takes a look at the timeline of Springbok wing Aphiwe Dyantyi’s banned substance case, from when the news broke up until the outcome of the hearing.
On Sunday it was confirmed to SARugbymag.co.za by Saids CEO Khalid Galant that a four-year suspension has been handed down to Dyantyi. The athlete was informed on Friday and a formal statement will be released on Monday.
READ: Dyantyi handed four-year suspension
Here are the key dates leading up to this latest news:
24 August 2019 – News breaks that Dyantyi tested positive for an undisclosed prohibited substance on 2 July after a Springbok training camp.
READ: Dyantyi’s B-sample comes back positive
30 August 2019 – The South African Institute for Drug Free Sport confirms that Dyantyi’s B-sample has tested positive for banned substances. The player’s B-sample was tested on his request in the wake of his initial positive test. It is also confirmed that three prohibited substances – metadienone, methytestosterone and LGD-4033 (commonly known as Ligandrol) – were found in his system.
READ: Dyantyi doping – What was discovered
2 September 2019 – The Dale College Old Boys Union releases a statement in support of Dyantyi following the wing’s positive test for banned substances. Dyantyi is also a Dale old boy.
19 September 2019 – Dyantyi announces he will contest his doping charge after testing positive for three banned substances in August. At the time, he was faced with three options: to accept the charge and sanction, to submit a plea for a reduced sanction or to contest the charge in front of an independent tribunal.
22 November 2019 – In his first social media post since August 2019, Dyantyi provided an update on his mental struggle since being suspended.
‘One of the happiest moments in life is when you find the courage to let go of what you cannot change,’ Dyantyi wrote. ‘Five months later and not much has changed, except my battles and struggles empower and give me strength. My tears, my heartbreak sometimes holds me back (as if saying “it’s ok to fail”). Life would be easier if I just listened to them, but I’m reminded each day that life wouldn’t be what it is if there weren’t spoils and spills every now & then.’
January 2020 – Dyantyi’s legal submits a statement of defence on his behalf, while also providing a ‘few supplements that he claimed could have been the source’.
May – April 2020 – Dyantyi’s trial was supposed to have been held over these two months, but the hearing process was delayed due to Covid-19.
August 2020 –Exactly a year after the confirmation that he had tested positive for banned substances, Dyantyi opens up about his anxiety. He revealed how he suffered a panic attack on one of the first occasions he braved going out in public after testing positive.
‘Some guy helped me a lot to get there and he took me to the hospital, but I don’t remember much about what happened. Fortunately, the doctor knew the situation and who I was and he kept everything on the low, which was good.’
September – November 2020 – Dyantyi’s hearing with Saids finally takes place. It first started on 15 September before being reconvened over 3 and 4 November, when it concluded.
11 December 2020 – On Friday, the player was informed of his four-year suspension as imposed by Saids.
13 December 2020 – The news of the outcome of Dyantyi’s hearing and his subsequent suspension breaks. Saids have since confirmed that a formal statement will be released on Monday, 14 December.
ALSO READ: Dyantyi’s long and lonely road
Photo: Gallo Images
