Sibusiso Nkosi, a member of the South African 2019 World Cup-winning team, has been handed a three-year ban by World Rugby following a positive test for an anabolic steroid, as confirmed by his club, the Cheetahs, on Monday.
According to an anonymous Cheetahs official speaking to AFP, Sibusiso Nkosi’s sample from a World Rugby test conducted in May tested positive for an anabolic steroid, resulting in the three-year ban.
Reports from South African media indicated that bodybuilders commonly use the substance found in Nkosi’s sample, and his suspension is expected to last until July 15, 2027.
The 28-year-old winger, who served as an understudy to Cheslin Kolbe during the 2019 World Cup in Japan, is the second member of the championship-winning squad to face a ban due to doping. In January of last year, fly-half Elton Jantjies was suspended for four years for using a banned substance.
Nkosi earned his first of 16 international caps in 2018 against England and made his final appearance three years later against New Zealand, scoring nine Test tries.
During his career, Nkosi faced mental health challenges while playing for the Bulls and went missing for a few weeks in 2022, prompting a police search before being located at a relative’s home. Following spells with the Sharks and Bulls, he signed a one-year contract with the Cheetahs based in Bloemfontein in March last year.