Botes, who matriculated from Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool (Affies) in 2025, enjoyed a stellar schoolboy season last year. He represented the Blue Bulls at the U18 Craven Week in Middelburg and subsequently earned selection for the SA Schools "A" team during the U18 International Series.
However, a routine drug test conducted during the Craven Week tournament came back positive for 19-norandrosterone and 19-noretiocholanolone, direct metabolites of nandrolone, an anabolic androgenic steroid tightly banned under the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) code. Botes did not contest the laboratory findings and requested his B-sample be analysed, which ultimately confirmed the initial results.
During the SAIDS disciplinary tribunal, Botes denied intentional doping. He testified that the substance entered his system via a supplement called "Testojoint", alternatively labelled as "Ultimate Test Booster", which he used to manage shoulder pain and aid recovery.
According to the official SAIDS decision, the supplement was purchased in cash by the player's father from an unidentified salesperson operating outside a pharmacy. The container featured: No listed manufacturer, no batch number, no expiry date and no formal product receipt.
While the SAIDS panel accepted that Botes and his family gave their testimonies sincerely and made substantial efforts to find an innocent explanation, the lack of verifiable evidence meant they could not legally establish how the steroid entered his system. Consequently, the anti-doping violation was ruled as intentional.
The young prop's rugby aspirations have hit a massive roadblock. His four-year period of ineligibility is backdated to 25 August 2025, meaning he is legally barred from all competitive rugby until 24 August 2029.
Botes’ ban marks the latest blow in a challenging year for South African age-grade rugby integrity. He is the second junior player suspended this year, following a three-year ban handed to Wits loose forward Liam Santos. Furthermore, massive scrutiny remains on youth structures as Junior Springboks prop Kai Pratt currently awaits his own B-sample results after testing positive for an anabolic steroid earlier this season.