Another Rugby Player Tests Positive For Prohibited Anabolic Steroids

It was confirmed by Drug-Free Sport (SAIDS) that Liam Santos tested positive for two banned anabolic androgenic steroids following an in-competition drug test on February 20, 2026. The South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport (SAIDS) announced that the rugby player has been handed a three-year ban from all sport.
Santos played as a loose-forward for FNB Wits, (University of the Witwatersrand), in the Varsity Shield competition. Before his university career, he played schoolboy rugby for Grey College first XV in Bloemfontein.
His positive drug test occurred during an in-competition test following a Varsity Shield match on February 20, 2026, where he scored a hat-trick for Wits against FNB UFH

"Following an In-Competition test conducted on Liam Santos on 20 February 2026, the athlete tested positive for the presence of Drostanolone Metabolite, 2a-methyl-5a-androstan-3a-ol-17-one and the Dehydrochloromethyl Testosterone Metabolite, 4a-chloro-18-nor-17b-hydroxymethyl, 17a-methyl-5a-androst-13-en-3a-ol) in his urine Sample.

In terms of the World Anti-Doping Code (“WADC”) Prohibited List 2026, Drostanolone and Dehydrochloromethyl-Testosterone are classified under Category S1 (Anabolic Androgenic Steroids), which is prohibited at all times (In- and Out-Of-Competition).

The Athlete accepted the sanction of four (4) years, which was subsequently reduced to three (3) years based on his early admission of the anti-doping rule violation under Article 10.8.1 of the SAIDS Rules. The Athlete’s period of Ineligibility began on 24 April 2026 (the date he was notified of his mandatory Provisional Suspension) and will be effective up to and including 23 April 2029."