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Tuks star banned for doping

Cape Town - Zane Botha, captain of Tuks’ victorious 2012 Varsity Cup rugby side, has admitted to using a banned substance.

The 24-year-old hooker told Beeldhe wanted to improve his chances of becoming a full-time professional player.

This revelation comes after rumours surfaced on Twitter on Wednesday that a top player from Tuks had been banned for drugs.

Botha admitted to testing positive for the use of a synthetic anabolic steroid named stanozolol on January 15 this year.

“I am guilty and will hurt too many people if I try to play innocent. I’m not sure if the use of the drug is common among rugby players. I used it for the first time during a nine-week off-season period last year - until the end of December.”

He was tested by the SA Institute for Drug-free Sport (SAIDS) at the start of the new season and has subsequently received a two-year ban from rugby, which has seen him move back to his home town of Bloemfontein where he currently works.

"The test was positive and I immediately admitted guilt and declined my right to a hearing."

He said he also apologised to Tuks for the disservice done to their institution and jersey.

Botha, who also represented the Blue Bulls at Vodacom Cup and junior levels, declined to say where he got the drug, but admitted it “wasn’t at all easy to get hold of”.
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