Elton Jantjies, the suspended Springbok fly-half, is currently serving a four-year suspension for using the banned substance clenbuterol. The 33-year-old tested positive on 20 June 2022, meaning he won’t be allowed to play again until 2027 when he will be 36 years old.
Despite Jantjies’ cryptic video on Instagram suggesting he would be back “faster than you guys think”, Khalid Galant, CEO of the South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport (Saids), confirmed that there are no new developments in the case. “Whatever is circulated on social media will just stay there. The case has been settled,” Galant stated.
Jantjies Maintains Innocence, Focuses on “Next Cycle”
Jantjies, who did not request an appeal hearing within the allotted 21 days after being notified of his suspension in early December, maintains that he did not use clenbuterol.
In his video, he says, “When I’m back on the rugby field, there will be another version of the Elton that you know.”
The suspended player also expressed his belief that he has the “right answers, facts and evidence” and that “a lot of organisations don’t do things the right way.”
Jantjies is focusing on the “next cycle”, suggesting his sights are set on the 2027 World Cup in Australia, when he will be 37 years old.
Clenbuterol: An Animal Medicine Product
Clenbuterol is not prescribed for human consumption in South Africa. The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (Sahpra) confirmed that it is an animal medicine product, sold as Ventipulmin and used to treat respiratory ailments in horses. As a schedule 4 medicine, it requires a prescription from a veterinarian.
Jantjies Sees Suspension as a “Blessing in Disguise”
Despite the setback of potentially missing out on a second World Cup in his career, Jantjies remains positive, stating that the last few months have been a “blessing in disguise.”
He believes that the suspension has created opportunities for him and provided answers in his personal life and rugby career.
However, Jantjies also expressed disappointment in some of the people he looked up to, saying, “There are many people I looked up to who disappointed me deeply.”
No Shortcut Back to the Rugby Field
As it stands, Elton Jantjies’ suspension will keep him off the rugby field until 2027. Despite his optimism and belief in his innocence, there appears to be no shortcut back to playing the sport he loves.
The rugby world will have to wait and see if Jantjies can make a comeback at the age of 36 or if his international career has come to a premature end.