Sbu Nkosi’s career has had two major public setbacks: he went missing for a few weeks in 2022 during a period he later linked to mental pressure, and in 2024 he was reported to have tested positive for a banned substance and received a three-year doping ban.

What happened

  • In December 2022, the Bulls reported him missing after he had been absent without leave for three weeks, and later said he was found safe.
  • Nkosi later said the disappearance was tied to mental pressure from professional rugby.
  • In 2024, reports said he tested positive for an anabolic steroid and was banned for three years by World Rugby.

Public context

His story has been widely discussed because he was part of South Africa’s 2019 Rugby World Cup-winning squad, so the missing-person episode and the doping ban drew a lot of attention. Some reports also note that the ban effectively sidelines his top-level rugby future for the foreseeable future.

Simple timeline

  1. 2019: Part of the Springboks’ World Cup-winning squad.
  1. 2022: Reported missing, then found safe; he said mental pressure played a role.
  1. 2024: Reported positive doping test and three-year ban.

If you want, I can also give you a very short “one-paragraph” version or a more detailed timeline.