Springbok World Cup winner Nkosi fails doping test, says club official

South Africa’s 2019 Rugby World Cup winner Sibusiso Nkosi has tested positive for an anabolic steroid, an official from Bloemfontein-based club Cheetahs told AFP on Sunday.

“I can confirm reports that Sbu underwent a World Rugby test in May and his A sample was positive,” said the official, who requested anonymity as he is not the club’s spokesman.

The 28-year-old winger, who replaced Cheslin Kolbe at the World Cup in Japan, could be banned for four years if his B sample also comes back positive.

Another Springbok 2019 World Cup winner, link-up player Elton Jantjies, was banned for four years last January for taking the banned substance clenbuterol.

Nkosi won the first of 16 Test internationals against England in 2018 and his last appearance was three years later against New Zealand.

After moving from the Sharks to the Bulls, he suffered from mental health problems and disappeared for several weeks in 2022, triggering a police manhunt until he was found at a relative’s house.

The Cheetahs, who gave Nkosi a one-year contract this year, withdrew the winger from a Currie Cup match against the Bulls in Pretoria on Friday for “personal reasons”.

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