Lock Hendre Stassen has officially been released from his contract with French club Stade Français after testing positive for a banned substance in May.

The 21-year-old former Bulls and SA U20 player joined Stade last year, but has fallen out of favour after he tested positive for a banned substance at a random screening four months ago.

Stassen was suspended by the French anti-doping agency on 10 July, pending the outcome of the result of his B-sample urine test.

It has now been confirmed that his B-sample also tested positive for the banned substance, increasing the possibility that Stassen could be suspended for four years if found guilty of using performance enhancing drugs.

Stade sent out a statement on Friday denouncing Stassen’s use of a prohibited substance and also confirmed his contract had been terminated.

‘The results of the second urine test carried out on 18 July at the request of Hendre Stassen confirmed the result of the first sample,’ read the statement.

‘As a result, Hendre Stassen is no longer a player at Stade Français. No further statements will be made on this subject.’

‘Given the approach and actions taken by the French Agency for the fight against doping and damage to the image of Stade Français, the club has initiated a procedure for breach of the contract of its player which has resulted his dismissal for serious misconduct.

‘The club wishes to confirm that it is fully committed to the fight against doping and that it is committed to exemplary flawlessness so that it can not tolerate the slightest doubt about it.’

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