[imagesource: Sbu Nkosi/ Instagram]

Springboks winger Sbu Nkosi might have just played his last match.

The 28-year-old Rugga star could be staring down a career-ending doping ban after allegedly testing positive for a banned substance.

After snagging a Rugby World Cup win with the Springboks in 2019, he wasn’t in the Cheetahs’ lineup for their Currie Cup game against the Bulls at Loftus this weekend.

That’s because Nkosi was tested by World Rugby along with three other Springboks in May this year, with his A sample reportedly showing a positive result for the use of anabolic steroids, according to PlanetRugby. This substance is mainly used by bodybuilders.

If Nkosi’s B sample also tests positive, he faces a potential ban of up to four years. Unfortunately, it is seldom the case that the A sample is positive and the B sample is not.

Welcome home, Sbu Nkosi🐆

📷: SA RUgby 101@ToyotaSA pic.twitter.com/7wAWfvoNKo

— Toyota Cheetahs (@CheetahsRugby) March 1, 2024

The South African Institute for Drug-Free Sports (Saids) said they sometimes do tests on their behalf in South Africa but “cannot comment on tests that fall under World Rugby’s authority”.

It’s a massive setback for Nkosi as he made his Test debut for the Springboks in 2018 and has since earned 16 international caps and scored nine tries. On top of that, Nkosi was in the Springboks’ 2019 World Cup-winning team and also helped clinch a series win over the British and Irish Lions on home turf.

The winger has had a fair share of trials and tribulations, failing to make the most of his move from the Sharks to the Bulls in 2022, during which time, he also had his battles with his mental health and went MIA for three weeks in late November of 2022.

The winger went on to openly criticise the Bulls on social media stating that he felt ‘judged’ by the Pretoria-based franchise with director of rugby Jake White taking umbrage to his remarks.

After some time away from the game, Nkosi aimed to revive his career in Bloemfontein. He reunited with former teammate Frans Steyn, now the Cheetahs’ director of rugby, who signed him up for the 2024 Currie Cup season.

According to the Rapport, Nkosi is one of the players on a PONI (player of national interest) contract meaning that SA Rugby pays part of his salary every month.

Nkosi marks the fourth Springbok since 2019 to test positive for banned substances after Aphiwe Dyantyi, Chiliboy Ralepelle and Elton Jantjies all got busted for positive results before.

[source:planetrugby]