The independent panel that handed down a four-year ban to Aphiwe Dyantyi found that he had ‘failed to satisfy the burden of proof to establish that his positive dope test was not intentional’.
On Monday, the South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport (Saids) released a statement to say it confirms and accepts the decision rendered by the independent doping hearing panel.
READ: Dyantyi handed four-year suspension
Saids received the decision on Thursday, 10 December, and the player was informed on Friday.
‘The three-person panel accepted the guilty plea of the athlete to the doping charge. They found that the athlete had failed to satisfy the burden of proof to establish that his positive dope test was not intentional,’ the statement from Saids read.
‘The panel relied on the framework for sanctions in the World Anti-Doping Code that outlined a sanction of four years for the doping offense in this matter.
‘Mr Dyantyi is effectively banned from participating in sport from the date of 13th August 2019 when he was provisionally suspended to 12th August 2023. The athlete’s rights are reserved to seek relief through lodging an appeal should he believe that he has substantive grounds for an appeal.’
On this note, Dyantyi’s agent, Gert van der Merwe, confirmed to SARugbymag.co.za that they would consider an appeal.
‘We have 21 days to appeal the outcome of the hearing. We will sit and discuss our options this week.’
Meanwhile, the statement from Saids further stated that athletes are reminded to ‘exercise caution when using sports supplements and to evaluate the risk of these supplements, especially the products that purport to guarantee quick muscle gains and strength without the commensurate strength and conditioning routine.’
