South African Gerbrandt Grobler tested positive for steroid drostanolone in '14.GETTY IMAGES
Anti-doping execs in South Africa "expressed alarm at evidence that coaches and parents are complicit in what appears to be the growing use of anabolic steroids by schoolboy rugby players," according to Martyn Ziegler of the LONDON TIMES. Drug tests at this year's Craven Week, South Africa's annual festival for leading players aged 16-18, led to six positive findings for steroids. Each of the players "had taken a cocktail of banned drugs and some of them had been injected by their parents." There is also evidence that "drug-taking by boys hoping to make it as professionals begins when they are as young as 14." South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport CEO Khalid Galant called for the country's sports authorities to "confront the issue," saying that the statistics indicate "the situation has worsened." Galant said, "The deterrent effect of testing seems to have had no effect, and it is also concerning that it appears in some cases the steroids were being injected through a needle. Parents and coaches also appear to be complicit. ... We want schools and governing bodies to take more responsibility for the behavior of coaches and parents." SAIDS carried out 122 tests during Craven Week in July and the six players testing positive for steroids compares with three in '14, five in '15, four in '16 and three in '17. The six who tested positive have received bans of "between three and four years," and those who had already secured a professional contract have had those terminated. The South African Rugby Union did not respond when asked for comment (LONDON TIMES, 10/31).
