Former Stade Francais player Hendre Stassen, from Boksburg, has broken his silence since news broke late last year that the lock forward had been shown the door by the French rugby club after failing two drug tests.
The 22-year-old was provisionally banned by Stade in early July last year after testing positive following a Top 14 match in May.
Weeks had subsequently gone by before it was revealed that his B sample also tested positive for a banned substance, leading to the termination of his contract with the French club.
According to the player, he’s still waiting for his hearing which was supposed to have taken place already but was hampered by the pandemic.
An official date for the hearing is yet to be announced but he’s still training to keep fit and remains provisionally suspended until he learns of his rugby fate.
The following message to his supporters was recently posted on his social media platform:
I would firstly like to take this opportunity to apologise to all my fans and supporters who have been following my career from day one. Your ongoing support, love and kindness have kept me strong over the last year and I am forever grateful and appreciative. Rugby has been my life for so many years and the amazing support system I have around me has allowed me to play the game I love without fear and also deal with all the pressure that comes with life as a professional rugby player.
It has been a long time since you have seen me take to the field and despite my silence, I continue to fight every day for my career and have not given up hope that I will one day soon return to the game.
I have taken this time as an opportunity to build a career off the field and prepare myself for life after rugby as well as to grow my relationships with close friends and family who have always been there to support me. In times like this it is the strength of my support systems that enable me to maintain hope and keep faith.
Since my provisional suspension last year, I have not stopped working to stay healthy and continue to work every day and stay fit, to reach the goals I set for myself when I first started my career.
Although I do not want to comment on the ongoing proceedings against me, I would like to make it clear to all who follow and support me that I believe in hard work and fair play. I am not a cheater and have never intentionally taken substances in order to enhance my performance.
The result and subsequent proceedings were just as much a shock to you as they were to me. The road is long and there are many curves and bumps, but I will continue to fight for not only myself but for all the people who have invested time and energy into my career.
My story is far from over. The next chapter is only beginning and will no doubt be more exciting than ever. I look forward to taking this journey with you all.
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The player had quickly established himself as one of the first names on paper in then Stade coach Heyneke Meyer’s starting 15 before the ordeal.
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