Former SA lock 'Toring' banned for three years at 38
Today at 04:57 AM
NEWS: A former South African lock has been banned for three years after testing positive for a banned substance while playing for Newport.
The 38-year-old Rynard Landman failed a drug test taken at a Newport training session on August 8 ahead of the season.
"Analysis of Mr Landman's urine sample detected the anabolic steroid, nandrolone, and its metabolite, 19-norandrosterone. Nandrolone is banned in sport at all times under the World Anti-Doping Agency's Prohibited List," read a UK Anti-Doping statement.
During his time as captain of the Dragons Landman was a hugely popular figure at Rodney Parade.
He made 115 appearances for the Dragons after signing in 2014.
The towering lock, affectionately known as 'Toring', previously played for several South African sides including Leopards, Griquas, and Cheetahs before becoming a crowd favourite in the Dragons jersey.
He also represented the Royal XV against the British and Irish Lions in Rustenburg in 2009 while playing for the Leopards.
The South African initially retired after finishing playing in France's Pro D2 with Carcassonne in 2023.
However, he came out of retirement to play for Newport and made 10 appearances last season with his only loss coming in the Premiership final at Llandovery.
Landman continued with a pair of outings in Super Rygbi Cymru this season but a start at Swansea on September 21 will be his last for at least three years.
He was notified of the result on October 4 and the lock explained that he had used nandrolone between June and August of 2023 after retiring from the professional game.
"UKAD sought the advice of an independent scientific expert to determine whether Mr Landman's use of nandrolone in August 2023 would result in a positive test result for the substance in August 2024," continued the UKAD statement, with the expert opinion provided by professor David Cowan of King's College, London.
"In summary, the scientific expert considered it unlikely that nandrolone would be present in a sample one year after its purported administration."
After arriving from the Cheetahs in 2014, Landman captained the Dragons and made 115 appearances for the club over five seasons before going on to be a hit in France, initially with Soyaux Angouleme and Carcassonne.
He returned to Wales to live in Rogerstone and then was tempted out of retirement to play for the Black and Ambers.
Landman has been banned until October 3, 2027, and is not allowed to train or use the facilities of a Welsh Rugby Union club until the final two months of the suspension.
