- Three Craven Week players have faced three-year bans for testing positive at last year’s inter-provincial rugby week.
- Two of them are Lions mainstay Sifiso Magwaza and Free State hooker Khoitsimodimo ‘Kamo’ Mathibedi, who went to Hoerskool Monument and Gray College respectively.
- A third player whose name was redacted because he is underage also received a three-year ban for a positive doping test.
Three Craven Week players have been slapped with a three-year ban for doping violations that occurred during last year’s inter-provincial school rugby week.
Two of the players in question are Sifiso Magwaza, who played prop for the Lions, and Khoitsimodimo ‘Kamo’ Mathibedi, who was a hooker for Free State.
The names of the players were published on the website of the South African Institute for Drug Free Sports (Saids).
Sifiso Magwaza
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Magwaza, who went to the Hoerskool Monument in Krugersdorp and was selected for the South African Schools squad for a one-off match against South African A Schools, tested positive for the presence of Methandienone metabolite in the week that it was held at Rondebosch Boy’s High School in Cape Town.
Since his ban period dates from August 4 last year, he did not feature in the South African schools’ matches against England and France.
He will be available to play rugby again on August 4, 2025.
Khoitsimodimo Mathibedi
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Mathibedi, who was the second team hooker at Gray College with a few appearances for the first team, tested positive for the presence of Methandienone metabolite.
Mathibedi’s suspension period dates back to August 22 last year, meaning his suspension will run until 2025 on the same date.
Another player whose name was redacted for being a minor has tested positive for 19-norandrosterone and has been banned for three years.
Another Varsity Cup player who earned a three-year suspension is Andre Gerber, who played for the Nelson Mandela University team.
Gerber was notified of his provisional suspension due to the presence of Oxandrolone Metabolites on September 19 of last year and will return to the game on the same day in 2025.
