Springboks head honchos Jacques Nienaber and Rassie Erasmus. Photo: SA Rugby website

Springboks head honchos Jacques Nienaber and Rassie Erasmus. Photo: SA Rugby website

Bok coach slams misleading reports of positive drug tests in camp

Bok coach Jacques Nienaber has his out at the ‘disturbing timing’ of unsubstantiated reports of substance abuse among their players.

Springboks head honchos Jacques Nienaber and Rassie Erasmus. Photo: SA Rugby website

Springboks head honchos Jacques Nienaber and Rassie Erasmus. Photo: SA Rugby website

On Saturday, rumours and reports started to swirl online about the Bok team, with SA Rugby magazine reporting that Sunday newspaper Rapport was ready to publish a story that alleges “several Springboks have tested positive for cocaine”.

RATINGS: MARX, DE ALLENDE, HENDRIKSE SHINE FOR BOKS

However, there was no sign of this report on Sunday, while SA Rugby responded to emphatically deny the reports surrounding ‘unsubstantiated allegations of failed player tests for recreational drugs’.

Speaking after the Rugby Championship clash on Saturday, Nienaber also said: “From my side, it was quite disturbing, especially the timing of it, five hours before a big Test match like this and it’s a ‘semi-final’, you know, I’m stunned.

“I’m literally stunned that allegations like that can be made about this team because again we are tested as any other team is tested regularly, sometimes three times a week in South Africa.

“There hasn’t been one positive case since we’ve been together all this year. So yeah, it is disappointing.”

SA Rugby released this statement on Saturday evening:

SA Rugby is aware that unsubstantiated allegations of failed tests for recreational drugs by Springbok players are circulating among members of the media.

Disappointingly, these allegations have already appeared online despite the absence of any evidence to support them.

SA Rugby has consistently advised all inquiring media that no such reports have been received by SA Rugby or any player from the only authority permitted to perform such tests, the South African Institute for Drug Free Sport. SA Rugby does not conduct its own tests.

Despite the absence of any such reports, players and management in Argentina have been contacted to “tell their story”, distracting and destabilising the entire camp in the build-up today’s Test against Argentina in Buenos Aires.

SA Rugby wishes to repeat that it has no evidence of any adverse analytical findings for any kind of drug – be it performance enhancing or recreational – by Springbok players and regards the publication or the threat to publish such allegations as a deliberate attempt to sabotage the team’s preparations.

These latest reports come in a week where the Springboks have been preparing for a clash against Argentina on Saturday night, although much of the build-up to this match has been overshadowed by reports of an alleged affair between flyhalf Elton Jantjies and Springbok dietician Zeenat Simjee.

READ: SPRINGBOKS RELEASE STATEMENT ON JANTJIES SCANDAL

The Bok team claimed an important bonus-point win over Argentina on Saturday night

Point scorers:

Argentina – (6) 20

Try: Penalty try, Matias Moroni

Conversion: Emiliano Boffelli

Penalties: Emiliano Boffelli (2)

South Africa – (22) 36

Tries: Penalty try, Jaden Hendrikse, Malcolm Marx (2), Damian de Allende

Conversions: Frans Steyn (2), Damian Willemse

Penalty: Willemse

ALSO READ | RASSIE ERASMUS COMMENTS ON ELTON JANTJIES SAGA