Bad medicine
The rise of doping in SA sports
There is a burgeoning culture of sports doping in SA, driven by the trade in illicit steroids and a poorly regulated supplements sector
As South Africans bask in the glory of a somewhat unexpected 2019 Rugby World Cup victory, the sad reality is that the country is fast garnering a reputation for sports doping.
In the past 24 months, four high-profile athletes have tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs: Roland Schoeman (swimming), Aphiwe Dyantyi (rugby), Chiliboy Ralepelle (rugby) and Carina Horn (athletics). And the SA Institute for Drug-Free Sport (SAIDS) cited no fewer than 47 doping violations in its 2018/2019 annual report, from sporting codes such as powerlifting, canoeing, bodybuilding and boxing, along with the usual culprits of cycling, athletics and rugby...
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