By REYNALD MAGALLON
Gilas Pilipinas’ gold medal in the Asian Games might be already safe but Justin Brownlee could still face possible sanctions that could also affect his future in the PBA and with the national team due to his doping case.
Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino said they are already preparing for any eventuality as the International Testing Agency conducts another test on Brownlee’s B-samples.
In fact, Tolentino said Brownlee is already in the US to collate all his medical documents in case an appeal is needed to the Court of Arbitration for Sports.
“Ang inaasikaso na muna nya yung mga medical documents nya kung anong mga prinescribe sa kanya nung nasa medication sya sa states,” said Tolentino in an interview with Power and Play with Kom Noli Eala on Saturday, Oct. 14.
“Also sa certifications that we need, kailangan yun in case mag appeal if after opening B sample, mag positive ulit,” he added.
Officials of the POC and the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas suspected that Brownlee got the banned substance Carboxy-THC, which is linked to Cannabis use, during his medication and recovery after undergoing surgery to remove bone spurs on his foot before the Asiad.
A two-year suspension could be handed to Brownlee if the B-samples returned with the same result as the first test but an appeal could lower the possible temporary ban to just months.
Since ITA will forward the verdict to FIBA, Brownlee might not be able to play in any FIBA-sanctioned game including the PBA and possibly the Olympic Qualifying Tournament for the 2024 Paris Games.
“Kung positive again i-implement na yung two year suspension. That’s the time na we will file a case sa CAS to make an appeal and justify whatever kaya dapat maipon lahat yung medication nya,” said Tolentino.
“It’s part of the prohibited but hindi naman enhancing drugs yun so ginamit talaga when he was injured kung meron nga, so kung mapatunayan and nakita ng panel ng CAS, they might lower the suspension to one month to three months,” he added.
It was similar to the case for Kiefer Ravena who was proven to have violated the anti-doping rules in one of Gilas games in the 2019 World Cup qualifiers.
He was handed an initial two-year suspension but was reduced to 18 months following an appeal. Ravena was not allowed to play with his then mother team NLEX in the PBA during the stretch of the suspension.
