South Africa opt for plain fare after two positive tests

THE South African rugby team are replacing high-energy protein drinks with traditional Scottish food in an effort to ensure no more players fall victim to failed drugs tests.

Springbok pair Chiliboy Ralepelle and Bjorn Basson, who played in Saturday's win over Wales, both tested positive for the banned stimulant methylhexaneamine, and were forced to return home on Sunday evening to wait further test results. The caffeine-like stimulant, found in many food and drinks, was added to the World Anti-Doping Agency list of prohibited substances this year and will be downgraded from 1 January, to carry a warning rather than an automatic suspension.

Both players were suffering from flu symptoms and given medicine, but the team doctor Craig Roberts insisted they had taken that before without adverse findings.

Now preparing for Saturday's Test match at Murrayfield, South Africa coach Peter De Villiers stated that everything the squad has been taking has been sent for further tests, and scrum-half Francois Hougaard, who makes his first start of the tour against Scotland, revealed that that had led to a greater dependence on local cuisine.

He said: "It was a shock. Now we can't drink any protein or anything; we're off everything. We're eating more food and drinking water.

"They (supplements] are like a meal replacement, after gym, so yes it is that (Scottish soup] for us now."

The squad had another unwanted surprise yesterday when their world-class winger, Bryan Habana, one of the quickest players in world rugby, suffered a broken hand in training and was later ruled out of the rest of the tour.