Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 13) – Gilas Pilipinas naturalized player Justin Brownlee failed a doping test a day after the team won the gold medal in men’s basketball, the International Testing Agency announced Thursday.
READ: Gilas captures Asian Games gold after 61 years
Some winning athletes from past international and global games have been stripped of medals after failing drugs tests during their competitions.
In a statement, ITA said Brownlee tested positive for Carboxy-THC a substance linked to cannabis and is included in the prohibited list of the world anti-doping agency.
The Hangzhou Asian Games organizing committee has yet to release a statement on the implication of Brownlee’s failed doping test.
According to Article 11 of World Anti-Doping Code of 2021, sanctions given to a team with two or more members who test positive include disqualification from a competition or event on top of added consequences to the individual athlete.
Only Brownlee was tagged positive from the Gilas team. His sample was collected during an in-of-competition by the China Anti-Doping Agency a day after the historic win against Jordan.
ITA said Brownlee has been informed of the case and has the right to request the analysis of the B-samples.
“The matter will thereafter be referred to the Anti-Doping Division of the Court of Arbitration for Sport for adjudication under the OCA Anti-Doping Rules,” the agency added.
Sami Bzai, from silver-medal team Jordan, was also flagged by the ITA after he tested positive for a non-specified prohibited substance.
A total of 10 Asian Games athletes, including cyclist Ariana Thea Beatrice Dormitorio, have tested positive for banned substances during the Games.
