Former Ireland star Gordon D’Arcy criticised South Africa’s history with doping after Aphiwe Dyantyi announced his return to Rugby.
After serving a four-year ban from the sport for doping Dyantyi returned to Rugby with the Sharks.
The Springbok’s winger tested positive for an anabolic steroid just before the 2019 Rugby World Cup and received his ban shortly afterwards.
After playing three games for the Sharks on their European tour, Dyantyi made his home debut last week and was given a very good reception.
D’Arcy criticised the reception and claimed, ‘South Africa’s record with this stuff is questionable’.
“Time and again, South Africa’s record with this stuff is questionable, to say the least.” D’Arcy wrote in his Irish Times column.
“ Just this summer, their playmaker Elton Jantjies had to withdraw from the wider Springbok World Cup squad after testing positive for an anabolic steroid,
“In 2020, former South Africa hooker Mahlatse ‘Chiliboy’ Ralepelle was banned for eight years after he tested positive for a banned substance for the third time in a decade.
“These aren’t obscure players. Dyantyi was World Rugby’s breakthrough player of the year in 2018. Jantjies and Ralepelle both played for the Springboks on and off for over a decade. Imagine equivalent Irish players serving long doping bans. Imagine the kind of reception they would get when they came back.
“Yet here’s Rassie Erasmus on Dyantyi earlier this summer. ‘I really hope that he comes back with a bang and he does really well for the Sharks. And I hope we can one day pick him for the Springboks again.’
“Even with the caveat that everyone deserves a second chance, this type of ringing endorsement for a proven doper contributes towards a greying culture of cheating.”