Durandt threatens to take on Balfour in court

A legal sparring session is looming between boxing trainer Nick Durandt and the chairman of the Boxing South Africa board, Ngconde Balfour.

Durandt has, through his lawyers, threatened to take legal action against Balfour if he does not apologise following a story published on Tuesday.

But the former sport minister has stood his ground, saying Durandt can go ahead and take him to court.

Balfour was commenting on the recommendations of the South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport that Durandt should be investigated after disgraced national featherweight champion Matima Molefe implicated the Johannesburg-based trainer in his consumption of banned substances.

Molefe said Durandt had given him an injection before his SA featherweight title fight against Simphiwe Tom on May 29.

Molefe stopped Tom in the second round, but his joy was short-lived after it was found that he had used banned substances - 19-norandrosterone and 19-noretiocholanolone.

The former champion is now serving a two-year ban recently imposed on him by Saids.

"Matima's report says he got an injection from his trainer," Balfour said earlier this week. "I have spoken to Dumile [Mateza, a Boxing SA board member] and I want the trainer to appear before a disciplinary committee and explain what the injection was for."

Responding on Tuesday, Durandt said: "They are more than welcome to invite me before a disciplinary hearing. I will welcome the chance to explain myself."