Chiliboy Ralepelle has been handed a two-year suspension following a failed drug test in March last year.
The 28-year-old former Bok hooker tested positive for banned anabolic steroid drostanolone after an out-of-competition doping control, which appears in Section S1.1a Anabolic Androgenic Steroids of the World Anti-Doping Agency’s 2014 list of prohibited substances.
An independent World Rugby judicial committee, chaired by Christopher Quinlan, sat on 2 June. After hearing all evidence, the committee found the player guilty of an anti-doping rule violation.
A two-year suspension was imposed, the standard sanction in the circumstances in accordance with World Rugby Regulations and the World Anti-Doping Code as in force since 2014. The suspension starts from the point of provisional suspension following the positive test, and the player will be free to participate again on 10 April 2016.
Ralepelle, who played the last of his 22 Tests in 2013, initially challenged his provisional suspension but gave up his right to appeal late last week.
World Rugby chief executive Brett Gosper said: 'World Rugby operates a zero-tolerance policy on doping and players are responsible for any prohibited substance found in their body. This particular case illustrates the rigorous anti-doping programme World Rugby implements in conjunction with Wada, both in and out of competition.'
Photo: Remy Gabalda/AFP Photo
