Barberton-born Springbok allegedly fails doping test
A four-year ban could be imposed on the 16-cap Springbok after he recently allegedly failed an illegal substances test.
The Barberton born-and-bred Springbok rugby player, Sbu Nkosi (28), allegedly failed an illegal substances test in May, according to a report in a Sunday newspaper on July 21.
The 16-cap Springbok is currently contracted to the Toyota Cheetahs, but had played for the Cell C Sharks from 2016 to 2022, and the Vodacom Bulls in 2022 and 2023. He last played for the Cheetahs against DHL Western Province in Bloemfontein on July 13. He was one of three Springbok players who were tested in May.
Nkosi allegedly returned a positive test for an anabolic steroid used by bodybuilders and could face a four-year ban from rugby if his B-sample tests positive. No confirmation on his test results could be obtained from SA Rugby or the Cheetahs.
“We can’t make any statements at this stage,” said Ronel Pienaar, the head of communications and media of the Free State Cheetahs.
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Nkosi was born in Barberton on January 21, 1996. He attended Barberton Primary School and Barberton High School. In 2012, he represented the U16 Pumas team at the Grant Khomo Week. He spent his final two years of high school at Jeppe in Johannesburg and in 2013 and 2014, he played for the Golden Lions at the U18 Craven Week. He made his Springbok debut in 2018 and has scored nine tries in 16 matches for his country. He is a 2019 Rugby World Cup winning Springbok.
Nkosi made news headlines in mid-November 2022, when he disappeared from Tshwane shortly after a Bulls training session. He was found on December 5, 2022 at his father’s home in Middelburg. He was physically unharmed, but was allegedly suffering from severe depression.
