Big Asenathi is free to play for Boks until his hearing

COMMENT MIKE GREENAWAY

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EYEBROWS have been raised in some quarters after Asenathi Ntlabakanye was added to the Springbok squad in Paris in spite of being under a doping cloud. Still, the bottom line is that the South African Institute for DrugFree Sport (SAIDS) has cleared the big fellow to play until his hearing in January.

It is an unusual case because, while Ntlabakanye tested positive for a performance-enhancing substance, SAIDS is satisfied that he was a victim of medical mismanagement. In short, Ntlabakanye received bad advice when he asked for a prescription for a drug to assist with his weight problem.

In early September, SAIDS charged Ntlabakanye for taking dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), which he had declared on a medical form. DHEA can increase the body's androgen levels, such as testosterone. Androgens have muscle-building effects, and DHEA is considered to have the potential to enhance athletic performance.