The South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport has confirmed that the B-sample result of Sharks and Springbok hooker, Chiliboy Ralepelle, had the presence of the banned substance, Zeranol.
Ralepelle now has the option of accepting the result and offering a guilty plea.
After that, a reasoned decision will be issued explaining the doping sanction. He may also submit a plea for consideration of a reduced sanction by providing mitigating circumstances.
This is not the first occasion that the 32-year-old Ralepelle has faced a doping enquiry.
He has had two previous run-ins with illegal substances and was given a two-year ban in 2014 having tested positive for Drostanolone while playing for his French club, Toulouse.
In 2010, he and teammate Bjorn Basson were sent home from the Springboks’ end-of-year tour after traces of the banned substance were found in their system.
Both players were proven innocent, because SA Rugby provided them with the wrong supplements.