Kaizer Chiefs midfielder, Josta Dladla, is still waiting to learn what his fate will be after the player failed a routine doping test. The 34-year-old tested positive for the banned substance, methylhexaneamine, after he was tested post a match in October last year. The results were made public earlier this month and as it stands, the player is still to hear what penalty he will face.
The veteran Chiefs star later came out and claimed that he mistakenly took the substance and added he had no idea that he contravened any doping rule. The player's representative, Steve Kapeluschnik, also pleaded for some leniency given the player's impeccable record as a professional footballer.
It also later emerged that Chiefs were waiting to see if the midfielder would face a ban before they decided whether or not to offer him a contract extension. Former Manchester City defender, Kolo Toure, was banned for six months in 2011 after testing positive for methylhexaneamine and it could be that Dladla may face a similar sanction.
The Siya crew put in a call to the South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport to see how much closer they were to making a ruling on the player. SAID's Chief Executive Officer, Khalid Galant, said, "Legal counsel from both sides are still in pre-bargaining negotiations. There will be an update tomorrow. Look, each case is different and it depends on due dilligence and the circumstances surrounding the case. The sentence could be anywhere from a warning to a two-year ban. It would be premature for me to predict what will happen until legal counsel meet."
