UEFA suspend Andre Onana for twelve months for failing drug test
Ajax and Cameroon first choice goalkeeper Andre Onana has been suspended by European football governing body UEFA for failing a drug test conducted in October 2020, according to a statement by the Eredivisie giant:
“The disciplinary body of the European football association, UEFA, has imposed a suspension of 12 months on Andre Onana for a doping violation. After an “out of competition” check on October 30 last year, the goalkeeper found the substance Furosemide in his urine. The suspension is effective from today and applies to all football activities, both national and international.
“On the morning of October 30, Onana was feeling unwell. He wanted to take a pill to ease the discomfort. Unknowingly, however, he took Lasimac, a drug that his wife had previously been prescribed. Onana’s confusion resulted in him mistakenly taking his wife’s medicine, ultimately causing this measure to be taken by UEFA against the goalkeeper. Furthermore, the disciplinary body of the football association has stated that Onana had no intention of cheating. However, the European Football Association believes, on the basis of the applicable anti-doping rules, that an athlete has a duty at all times to ensure that no banned substances enter the body.”
“Onana and Ajax will appeal the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).”
“We explicitly renounce performance-enhancing drugs, we obviously stand for a clean sport. This is a terrible setback, for Andre himself but certainly also for us as a club. Andre is a top goalkeeper, who has proven his worth for Ajax for years and is very popular with the fans. We had hoped for a conditional suspension or for a suspension much shorter than these twelve months, because it was arguably not intended to strengthen his body and thus improve his performance. ” said CEO Edwin van der Sar.
Onana was linked with a move away from the Johan Cruyff Arena last summer, with Chelsea and borussia Dortmund both interested in his signature but none materialised.
