A heavy blow to a promising young rugby career.
Former South African Schools A and Blue Bulls U18 prop Deon Botes has been handed a four-year suspension by the South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport (SAIDS) after testing positive for the banned anabolic steroid nandrolone.
The former Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool (Affies) front-rower was tested in competition on 7 July 2025 while representing the Blue Bulls at the U18 Craven Week tournament in Middelburg, Mpumalanga. Subsequent testing of his B-sample confirmed the presence of 19-norandrosterone and 19-noretiocholanolone, both prohibited under Category S1 of the WADA Prohibited List.
Supplement Defense Fails at IDHP Hearing
During his hearing before an Independent Doping Hearing Panel (IDHP) on 11 June 2026, Botes maintained that he had not deliberately doped, explaining that he had been taking a product called “Testojoint” to manage shoulder pain and assist with recovery.
However, the panel rejected the defense for several key reasons:
- Unverified Origin: The supplement was purchased for cash outside a pharmacy without receipts, manufacturer details, batch numbers, or expiration dates.
- Lack of Proof: Although acknowledging the family’s sincere testimony, the panel ruled that Botes failed to establish concrete scientific proof of how the prohibited substance entered his body.
- Strict Liability: Under WADA rules, athletes are strictly responsible for whatever enters their system.
Suspension Details & Return Date
- Sanction: Standard 4-year period of ineligibility.
- Effective Period: Backdated to 25 August 2025 (date of provisional suspension).
- Return Date: Eligible to return to competitive sport on 25 August 2029.
This verdict adds to recent junior rugby anti-doping suspensions in South Africa, following the three-year ban handed to Wits loose forward Liam Santos earlier in 2026.
