Toulouse and south Africa hooker Chiliboy Ralepelle has tested positive for the anabolic steroid drostanolone in a control carried out by the International Rugby Board [IRB], according to French sports daily L’Équipe.

L’Équipe reports that the 27-year-old hooker is now preparing his defence for a hearing on an as-yet-unconfirmed date. The test took place on the 19th of March, after which Ralepelle’s urine sample was shown to contain the banned substance.

The 22-times capped Springbok was recovering from knee surgery at that time, having had his ACL operated on in mid-February.

Ralepelle previously tested positive for a banned substance after South Africa’s clash with Ireland in Dublin in 2010, when his sample was found to contain the performance-enhancing drug methylhexanamine.

However, Ralepelle and teammate Bjorn Basson were both cleared by the South African Rugby Union [SARU] after it was found that the stimulant was in a supplement given to the players in the warm-up before the game against Ireland.

The same supplement had been used by the Springboks before, without any adverse effects, and was used by other professional and national teams in world rugby at the time.

Drostanolone is an androgenic anabolic steroid which can produce similar effects to testosterone. While it has been used as a breast cancer drug, body builders are known to ingest it close to competition in order to improve muscle hardness and density.

Toulouse president René Bouscatel has stated the the club will presume Ralepelle is innocent of intentionally consuming the substance unless the anti-doping hearing confirms otherwise.

The IRB’s anti-doping rules carry a minimum ban of two years for a player’s first offence, with lifetime bans for second violations.

Analysis: Ireland’s new-look midfield shows promise in Argentina

Four changes for Ireland U20s ahead of crucial JWC clash with Fiji