Zim rugby star banned for six years

Paul Munyuki Sport Reporter
FORMER Zimbabwe Under-20 rugby player Shane Joubert has been banned for six years after he was found on the wrong side of International Rugby Board anti-doping regulations.
This is the biggest doping ban ever handed to a Zimbabwean sports star.
Joubert was part of the Zimbabwe Under-20 side that finished seventh at the Junior World Rugby Trophy tournament in the United States two years ago.

Dylan Coetzee and Simbarashe Chirara were also caught off side.
They received two-year bans but Coetzee’s ban was later reduced by six months under a provision within IRB regulations.

Joubert was subsequently charged in relation to trafficking or attempted trafficking, administration or attempted administration, use or attempted use and possession of prohibited substances.

“As a member of the Zimbabwe Under-20 team for the IRB Junior World Rugby Trophy the previous year (2011), Joubert had signed the team member consent form for that tournament.

“As such, the player thereby specifically and formally acknowledged the application of the IRB anti-doping regulations and the IRB’s jurisdiction over him in relation to anti-doping.

“On September 8, 2013, Joubert provided a signed statement to the IRB admitting obtaining and using ‘steroids’ and supplying them to Coetzee and Chirara. A three-person judicial committee found that each of the charges laid against Joubert was proved and imposed on him a period of ineligibility of six years, commencing on December 13, 2012 (the date that the Union sent the notice of provisional suspension to him) and ending on December 12, 2018.

“The hearing was conducted on a written record.
“Joubert did not participate although he was duly notified of his right to do so. The judicial committee consisted of Graeme Mew (Canada, chairman), Dr George Ruijsch van Dugteren (South Africa) and Gregor Nicholson (Scotland).”