South Africa’s Rugby World Cup winner Elton Jantjies given four-year doping ban

South Africa’s 2019 Rugby World Cup winning fly-half Elton Jantjies has been given a four-year ban after failing a drugs test.

The 33-year-old tested positive in June last year for banned substance Clenbuterol, which can be used for body building and to burn fat.

Jantjies, who last played for Agen in France, had previously claimed he was innocent but the South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport confirmed he had not taken up his right to have a hearing.

He is yet to make a comment but his agent Anthony Johnson told South Africa’s Herald newspaper that he is "aware" of the outcome and his legal team are "working on the case".

Jantjies won 46 caps for the Springboks and he has spent most of his club career in his home nation with Stormers and Lions.

He missed on selection for last year’s successful World Cup title defence in France.

Before the tournament, Jantjies had reacted to the news of his positive test by saying: "It with no small amount of shock and sadness that I have to inform you that I received notification earlier this month, from the South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport, that a urine sample I provided in June 2023, returned a positive test for a banned substance, Clenbuterol.

"I have instructed legal representation to assist me in determining the source of the prohibited substance and I have instructed them to ask for my B sample to be tested and to launch an inquiry into the possible causes for the positive test."

- - -

TNT Sports presents the premium live sports rights previously carried by BT Sport including the Premier League, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Conference League, Gallagher Premiership Rugby, Investec Champions Cup, EPCR Challenge Cup, MotoGP, Cricket, UFC, Boxing and WWE. The streaming home for TNT Sports in the UK is discovery+, where fans can enjoy a subscription that includes TNT Sports, Eurosport and entertainment in one destination. You can also watch TNT Sports through BT, EE, Sky, and Virgin Media.