SHARKS HOOKER BANNED FOUR YEARS FOR DOPING

Monde Hadebe(25)  banned four years for alleged doping



Cell C sharks hooker, Monde Hadebe has become the latest rugby player to be banned from the sport after Super rugby’s random drug test results returned positive.

The 25-year old was banned from the sport for four years and his doping scandal comes after the return of Chiliboy Ralepelle to the Sharks set-up. Ralepelle was also found guilty of doping in 2014 while playing for Toulouse in France.

 Hadebe, unlike Ralepelle who served two years from the doping sin bin would be out of action for four years following South African Institute for Drug-Free Sports (SAIDS) decision to increase the ban with a further two years.

According to (SAIDS) more than 18 cases of doping in rugby have been identified from March 2015 to April 2016.

The Durban-born hooker who is a product of Westville Boy’s High School  made three appearances for the Sharks during the 2015 Super rugby season- against the Emirates Golden Lions, Western force and Vodacom Blue Bulls.

A statement released by the Sharks CEO, John Smit revealed that Hadebe who had been struggling with injuries quitted the sport earlier this year.

“Due to reoccurring injury that hampered his rugby progress he took the decision to retire from rugby at the beginning of the year, prior to SAIDS findings, he has successfully started a corporate career,” Smit said.