Springbok tighthead prop Asenathi Ntlabakanye will start for the Lions in Saturday’s Currie Cup final against Griquas at Ellis Park.
Lions coach Mziwakhe Nkosi confirmed that Ntlabakanye, who last featured for the Boks against the Wallabies at Ellis Park on 16 August, will return to action this weekend despite facing two formal doping charges.
The 26-year-old tested positive for a non-performance enhancing substance during routine testing in July. SA Rugby has stated that the substance was prescribed by a specialist physician under the supervision of a medical doctor.
Ntlabakanye was not selected for the Boks’ New Zealand tour while the case was under review, but as he has not been suspended and his hearing is only scheduled for December, he remains eligible to play.
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Nkosi said Ntlabakanye had used his time away to process the situation and prepare his defence, and that he had full support from the Lions.
“Asa will play, he will start,” Nkosi said. “He’s obviously been charged formally but hasn’t been suspended. In the interim, he’s a contracted rugby player for the Lions, so he must play up until his hearing in December.
“We’ve had a chat with him; it has taken a couple of weeks to come to terms with the situation and put together his own case that he’s going to present. Emotionally, he is comfortable and he’s the vice-captain for the weekend.
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“He’s in good emotional shape. He has trained with us for the last two weeks and we are looking forward to having him.
“It’s right for him to play now with the upcoming URC tour in mind. On behalf of the chairman and CEO Rudolf Straeuli, there’s a lot of backing for him. The cards will fall whichever way they fall; we are really behind him.”
The Lions team will be named on Friday.
Photo: Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images
