Sharks hooker Chiliboy Ralepelle has reportedly tested positive for a banned substance for the third time in his career.
Ralepelle, who has not yet played for the Sharks this season, allegedly tested positive for a prohibited substance on 17 January when the South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport (Saids) executed random drug tests at Kings Park.
Urine tests are divided in two samples, A and B. Ralepelle’s A-sample tested positive, but he has a right to ask that his B-sample be tested.
According to Saids CEO Khalid Galant, neither the player nor the substance can be named until both samples test positive, but he says SA Rugby and the Sharks have been informed of the player’s failed A-sample test.
According to Netwerk24, SA Rugby and the Sharks declined to comment, while Ralepelle couldn’t be reached.
In 2010, Ralepelle tested positive for methylhexanamine while on the Springboks’ end-of-year tour. Four years later, while playing for Toulouse, he tested positive for anabolic steroid drostanolone and was handed a two-year ban.
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