Halupe cops 4-year doping ban
World Rugby has announced the four-year ban of former Namibian prop Sidney Halupe, following the conclusion of the anti-doping case against him.
At the current age of 33 years, the ban until 12 August 2029 likely spells the end of his rugby playing career.
According to World Rugby’s ruling, Halupe tested positive for the use of GW1516 – a so-called metabolic modulator, on the banned list of the World Anti-doping Organisation (WADA) since 2009.
The substance was originally studied to treat obesity, type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol and heart disease because it forces the body to burn fatty acids instead of glucose, but clinical trials were halted and the drug was abandoned in 2007.
World Rugby stated that the urine sample Halupe provided on 25 June 2025 was collected as part of the governing body’s out-of-competition testing programme.
At the time, he was a member of the Namibian squad preparing for the decisive World Cup 2027 qualifier for Africa, held in Uganda.
Halupe, who rose through the ranks playing club rugby for Kudus and later Wits University, also toured with Namibia to Dubai, for a World Cup qualifying eliminator against the United Arab Emirates in July 2025, in which he played off the bench. It was one of five international matches in which he appeared.
Halupe was informed of the “Adverse Analytical Finding” (AAF) of his A sample on 11 August, as well as the B sample, on 14 October 2025.
During World Rugby’s hearing, the respondent’s written submission stated that he “very strongly” believed that the AAF was caused by his use of commercial dietary supplements known as “Animal Cuts” and “Animal Stak”, and/or from what he believed were vitamin C and D shots.
He told the committee that he had received no anti-doping education. He accepted committing the anti-doping rule violation, but argued that they were not committed intentionally, and that his fault or negligence was not significant.
With a number of substances listed on his Doping Control Form during testing (including aminos, vitamin D, creatine, whey protein, pre-workout, and pain killers), the respondent “has not established, on the balance of probabilities, the source of the GW1516”, World Rugby stated.
The committee concluded that Halupe has not discharged the burden to prove that the anti-doping rule violation was not intentional.
“As a player registered with World Rugby and a participant in competitions and other activities organised, authorised, or recognised by World Rugby, the respondent is at all relevant times subject to and bound to comply with Regulation 21 (World Rugby Anti-Doping Rules). He is thereby required to be familiar with the requirements … including being aware of what substances and methods are included on the Prohibited List.”
