World Rugby has handed winger Sbu Nkosi a lengthy suspension after testing positive for a banned substance.
According to Sunday newspaper Rapport, the three-year ban will be backdated to 16 July 2024.
This comes after Nkosi, 28, was tested alongside three other Springboks in May. His sample reportedly contained traces of an anabolic steroid, commonly used for muscle building.
Nkosi will be 31 by the time his ban is lifted, casting serious doubt over his future in Test rugby. The Barberton-born speedster earned 16 Test caps for South Africa between June 2018 and October 2021, crossing the whitewash nine times in the green and gold.
A product of Jeppe High School, Nkosi has faced numerous challenges off the field. In March 2024, he signed with the Cheetahs on a contract set to run until June 2025, after several other teams opted not to bring him on board due to past incidents.
Nkosi is the second Springbok wing to be handed a suspension for doping, after Aphiwe Dyantyi completed a four-year ban last August. Dyantyi returned to professional rugby with the Sharks and joined the Bulls in July.
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