By REYNALD MAGALLON
The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas is keeping its fingers crossed that Justin Brownlee would be able to dodge suspension which should make the veteran forward available for Gilas campaign in the FIBA Asia Cup in Saudi Arabia in August.
Speaking at the end of the federation’s National Congress at the Meralco Multi-Purpose Hall in Pasig City on Friday, May 9, SBP executive director Erika Dy clarified that there’s no news of any suspension for Brownlee so far even after getting an ‘adverse analytical finding’ in one of his doping tests last year.
“We do expect him to play in the Asia Cup. I know there were reports of his doping exam last November against New Zealand. We received that report, but just to clarify, so there’s no suspension at this point in time,” said Dy.
“We don’t expect any. There’s just a lot of delicate details that we cannot discuss because doping is a very delicate matter, a sensitive matter, so it’s very personal to the person that’s why Brownlee and his lawyers are handling it,” she added.
The concerns on Brownlee‘s participation on the continental meet are understandable considering that the Gilas naturalized player had already been meted a three-month suspension in the past due to a similar case.
Though optimistic that Brownlee would avoid any suspension, SBP president Al Panlilio is refusing to get his hopes too high as he intends to wait first on the official verdict from FIBA regarding the Gilas forward’s case.
“Unless we officially hear (from FIBA) what we’re hearing about it, then there’s none (yet). But I’m pushing Erika (Dy) to ask FIBA to already give us an official statement,” said Panlilio as the federation is careful to not get ahead of the governing body on the possible verdict.
“What I hear is he might be able to avoid it because he has, I think a term for that is, therapeutic exemption for medicinal purposes. That exemption, there’s a range of the level of marijuana in the blood as long as you don’t go beyond and I don’t think he did,” explained the SBP chief.
“That’s what we’re hearing, but if I may, just wait for the official. But we’re hearing positively, so we want to keep it at that,” he added.
