Another South African banned with immediate effect for doping

According to Rugby365, former SA Schools prop Deon Botes tested positive for 19-norandrosterone and 19-noretiocholanolone, metabolites of nandrolone, an anabolic androgenic steroid listed under section S1 of the World Anti-Doping Agency's prohibited substances list.

The positive test has resulted in a four-year suspension from rugby.

Botes, who graduated from Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool (Affies) in 2025, was tested while representing the Blue Bulls at the U18 Craven Week in Mpumalanga last year, which was hosted at Hoërskool Middelburg.

He later earned selection for the SA Schools 'A' side during the U18 International Series.

The South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport (SAIDS) confirmed that Botes' suspension is backdated to 25 August 2025 and will run until midnight on 24 August 2029.

Botes' disciplinary hearing took place on 11 June 2026, when both parties presented their respective cases.

He is the second junior player to receive a doping ban this year, following Wits loose forward Liam Santos, who was handed a three-year suspension.

Meanwhile, Junior Springboks prop Kai Pratt is still reportedly awaiting the analysis of his B-sample after returning a positive test for a prohibited substance in April.

The latest case comes after Springboks prop Asenathi Ntlabakanye was banned for 18 months in May for breaching anti-doping regulations, a suspension that will to rule him out of the 2027 Rugby World Cup.