Springbok fly-half Elton Jantjies has been banned from rugby for four years after testing positive for a prohibited substance., the South African Institute for Drug Free Sport (SAIDS) confirmed.

A member of the Springbok World Cup-winning team in 2019, he tested positive for the drug clenbuterol in August of last year, which some bodybuilders use to lose weight.

It also helps asthmatics by opening up their airways and can increase an athlete’s endurance.

The 33-year-old Jantjies pledged at that time to prove his innocence, but SAIDS CEO Khalid Galant told the South African media that he had been banned.

Galant informed the News24 website that the former Springbok’s window of opportunity for an appeal had closed.

Jantjies, who understudied Handre Pollard when South Africa won the World Cup for the third time in Japan five years ago, has suffered yet another setback.

When Jantjies was detained in 2022 on an international flight to Johannesburg, he was accused of intentionally causing property damage. Later, the charges were withdrawn.

A media report later that year claimed he was having an affair with Zeenat Simjee, the dietician for the Springbok team. They both refuted the charge.

Jantjies played for South Africa’s, Japan’s, and most recently, Agen, a French second-tier team, in addition to making 46 Test appearances for the Springboks and scoring 335 points.

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