Doping.

Springbok and Lions winger Aphiwe Dyantyi has formally been charged with a doping offence after testing positive for “multiple anabolic steroids and metabolites.”

The 24-year-old was named World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year last year after scoring six tries in 13 appearances for the Springboks. Dyantyi has been out for two months with a hamstring injury, with South Africa coach Rassie Erasmus leaving him out of his World Cup squad on Monday.

The South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport (SAIDS) informed Dyantyi on August 13, 2019, that an adverse analytical finding had been detected in a sample collected from him in a doping test on July 2, 2019.

Dyantyi, who was provisionally suspended in light of the finding, exercised his right to have his B-sample analysed. On Friday, SAIDS confirmed that the B-sample was tested at the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) accredited laboratory at the University of the Free State which confirmed the A-sample results of the presence of the banned substances: methandienone, methyltestosterone and LGD-4033.

Dyantyi now faces the prospect of a minimum four-year ban but has the right to contest the charge before an independent tribunal panel.

If he decides to dispute the charge and pleads not guilty, a hearing will be set down within the next four weeks, and he will be required to provide evidence that can prove his innocence.