The outcome of Aphiwe Dyantyi’s hearing into a doping offence is expected within ‘the next few weeks’, writes CRAIG LEWIS.
In mid-September, the Springbok wing’s long-awaited hearing got under way, just over a year after news first broke that Dyantyi’s mandatory B sample had come back testing positive for three banned substances following a national training camp.
The hearing was the reconvened over 3 and 4 November, with the South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport (Saids) confirming that the evidence presented will now be reviewed after final presentations.
‘The hearing into the doping charges against Springbok rugby player, Aphiwe Dyantyi, concluded after two days of testimonies by expert witnesses and closing arguments from both the athlete and prosecution,’ a statement from Saids read. ‘The athlete was charged with a doping violation in August 2019.
‘The independent panel will now deliberate on the evidence and render a decision within the next few weeks.’
Dyantyi has been out of action since the shock announcement came just a couple of months before he was hoping to compete for a place in the Springboks’ World Cup squad.
The World Rugby Breakthrough Player of 2018 subsequently released a statement in which he denied taking any banned substances.
Finality on his future could now well be revealed before the end of November, with the talented wing facing fears of an extensive multi-year ban unless the panel finds in his favour.
