Ralepelle faces lengthy ban

Ralepelle, who is currently recovering from a knee injury, was tested out of competition, with his A sample containing traces of Drostanalone, an anabolic steroid that is often used in bodybuilding.

 

The French daily L’equipe reported Saturday that Ralepelle was now “under investigation” and his club had been informed of the positive test.

 

However, it is likely to be a few weeks before a result is known, as the B-sample is likely to be tested now for confirmation at an independent laboratory before Ralepelle can be called to account for the positive sample.

 

The tests formed part of random tests conducted under the IRB’s anti-doping regime after Ralepelle was injured playing for his French club Toulouse. He tore knee ligaments in a game against Biarritz, an injury that ruled him out for the rest of the season and also the June test series for the Springboks. They took place on 19 March, when Ralepelle was recovering from his knee operation.

 

Drostanalone is marketed as Masteron, and is on the IRB’s banned list of substances, with its uses leading to higher levels of testosterone in the body. It has been medically used to lower cholesterol and in the treatment of breast cancer.

 

Toulouse president Rene Bouscatel stated the club will presume Ralepelle innocent of “intentionally consuming the substance” unless it is proved otherwise and it may well be that it formed part of medication he was given to recover from his knee operation.

 

However, Drostanalone is often used by bodybuilders before competition to improve muscle harness and density.

 

This is also not the first time Ralepelle has been tested positive, after he and Bjorn Basson were found to have a banned substance in their system when tested after South Africa’s clash with Ireland in Dublin in 2010.

 

Then both players had the performance-enhancing drug methylhexanamine in their system, but where both cleared by the South African Rugby Union after it was found that the stimulant was in a supplement given to the players in the warm-up before the game. The same supplement had been used before by the Boks and other teams, but its ingredients were apparently different in Ireland to the versions used in South Africa.

 

The club has declined any further comment until they know more, with team manager Guy Noves telling AFP that they currently “do not wish to speak on the subject.”

 

Ralepelle could not be contacted for comment and it is unclear if he has returned to France or is still continuing his rehabilitation in South Africa.

 

- Supersport