South Africa's Aphiwe Dyantyi tested positive for banned substance

South Africa international Aphiwe Dyantyi's involvement in the upcoming World Cup in Japan is under doubt after he was tested positive for a banned substance.

The 24-year-old last featured for the Springboks in November last year and was part of the World Cup training camp last month.

Dyantyi, who was named the World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year in 2018 underwent a medical test on 2nd June with his A sample indicating a presence of a banned substance as listed by South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport (SAIDS) and has requested the testing of B sample.

The Springboks star insisted that he did not take any prohibited substance intentionally and is determined to come out clean.

"I want to deny ever taking any prohibited substance, intentionally or negligently to enhance my performance on the field. I believe in hard work and fair play," Dyantyi told on Saturday.

"I have never cheated and never will. The presence of this prohibited substance in my body has come as a massive shock to me and together with my management team and experts appointed by them, we are doing everything we can to get to the source of this and to prove my innocence.

"As a professional sportsman on national and international level, we get tested on a regular basis. I have been tested before and again, since this test.

"Taking any prohibited substance would not only be irresponsible and something that I would never intentionally do, it would also be senseless and stupid."

South Africa director of rugby Rassie Erasmus is set to name the squad for the World Cup in Japan on Monday.