Western Province and Springbok forward Cobus Visagie has denied any wrong-doing and vowed to clear his name after revelations that he has tested positive for a banned substance.

The news broke on Friday morning and, if found guilty, he could be out of rugby for two years. The financial implications will mean the popular prop could miss out on an estimated R500,000 in wages.

In a statement, Visagie promised he had nothing to hide: "On 27 October 2000, the South African Rugby Football Union ("SARFU") informed me and the Western Province Rugby Football Union ("WP Rugby") that I had tested positive following my furnishing SARFU with a routine sample on 14 October 2000.

"I wish to stress that at no time have I utilised any banned substance, and the only supplements that I have taken are those that have been supplied to me by SARFU or Western Province Rugby.

"I have been advised from a legal and medical point of view that the circumstances of the matter are complex, and medically speaking, subject to considerable uncertainty, which is currently the subject matter of ongoing local and international scientific research.

"It is not appropriate for me to comment further at this stage, save that I will take all appropriate steps to defend myself."

Visagie can ask for a test to be done on his B sample. If this test proves negative, he will escape being censured. The Springbok can also request that he appear before a SARFU disciplinary committee to explain why he might have tested positive.

SARFU said the player had been given 14 days, until 10 November, to request that the B sample be tested or whether he wants to appear before the tribunal.

The last top player to have tested positive was Lions lock Johan Ackermann - a Blue Bull at the time - who returned to rugby this year after being banned for two years. He was found guilty of using anabolic steroids.

Two other Springboks, Balie Swart and Andries Truscott, were tested positive for banned substances early in the 1990s.