Breaking Bad — The extent of the doping problem in SA schoolboy rugby
The use of banned substances in schoolboy rugby has a long history and little is being done to stamp it out.
The extent of the doping issue in South African schoolboy rugby is a growing concern. Despite the long-standing history of the use of banned substances in youth rugby, little action has been taken to address the problem. Dr. Jon Patricios, a renowned sports physician, raised alarm about the unchecked use of supplements by schoolboy athletes in South African schools, many of which contained banned substances.
However, their concerns were ignored. The South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport (Saids) offered free testing to schoolboy athletes, but there is no regular and comprehensive drug testing at the high school level. Testing currently only takes place at specific events, such as the Craven Week, which occurs only once a year. This lack of testing allows certain schoolboy athletes and their parents to procure unlawful supplements and substances, including anabolic steroids, in an attempt to improve performance and increase physical size.
Recent cases have shown that schoolboy or former schoolboy rugby players, including at the Springbok under-20 level, have tested positive for anabolic steroids, indicating a potentially much bigger problem that is underreported due to the lack of extensive testing at the schoolboy level. The dangers of this situation include health risks for schoolboys, who put their health at significant risk by taking anabolic steroids or other unlawful substances, and the unfair advantage it gives to cheaters over those who rely on hard work and discipline.
Moreover, the reputation of South African sport and rugby in general could be significantly damaged if this type of conduct is not addressed. South African rugby's formidable reputation and the success of its under-20 team could be partially attributed to unlawful substance abuse, which is already causing murmurs that South African teams' success might be partly due to doping.
To preserve the integrity of South African sport, a nationwide testing regime should be considered, allowing for comprehensive testing while safeguarding individual rights, similar to methods used at rugby youth weeks.
Written by urgent.news from Daily Maverick's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
