Springboks Chiliboy Ralepelle and Bjorn Basson (above) are returning home from South Africa’s tour of Britain and Ireland having returned positive samples for a banned stimulant following the Test against Ireland on November 6.

Six Nations Rugby Ltd – who administers the November internationals – informed the South African Rugby Union of the positive Tests on Sunday evening. As a result the pair are provisionally suspended from all rugby and will return to South Africa on Monday. Basson injured an ankle in Saturday’s win over Wales and was due to return anyway.

The players were randomly drawn for testing by anti-doping officials following the Test at the Aviva Stadium. The players have the right to request that their ‘B’ sample be tested.

The pair returned an adverse analytical finding for methylhexaneamine, a “non-specified stimulant” on the prohibited substances list of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). It is scheduled to be re-classified as a “specified stimulant” from 1 January 2011.