The Sharks have confirmed that 18-year-old prop Kai Pratt has returned an adverse analytical finding for a prohibited substance, with SAIDS CEO Khalid Galant confirming the substance was an anabolic steroid.
The B sample was collected on 7 July 2026, with the adverse finding communicated on 22 June 2026. Pratt has exercised his right to request B-sample testing, and no hearing date has been set. Galant stressed that no ban is in place at this stage: "No hearing has been set, or decision has been rendered, and the ban only comes into place when a player has been charged and has pleaded guilty."
The Sharks acknowledged the matter in a brief statement, saying the club takes "all matters relating to player welfare, education and compliance with anti-doping regulations extremely seriously," while noting they are unable to comment further given the confidential and ongoing nature of the process.
Pratt was part of the SA Schools squad in 2025, starting at loosehead prop against the SA Schools 'A' side and featuring in the U18 International Series against France, Ireland and England. He signed with the Sharks and was included in a wider Springbok alignment camp earlier this year before sustaining a serious foot injury during the Junior Springboks' match against Argentina U20 on 27 April.
The case adds to a troubling run of doping-related matters in South African rugby. Springbok prop Asenathi Ntlabakanye is currently serving an 18-month suspension — effective from 13 May 2026 — after testing positive for Anastrozole and self-declaring use of the anabolic steroid DHEA during an out-of-competition test in May 2025, a ban that will rule him out of the 2027 World Cup. SA Rugby is also facing broader scrutiny after WADA records revealed a significant drop in the number of tests conducted on players.