PHILIPPINE Olympic Committee president Abraham Tolentino said Justin Brownlee is now in the process of collecting documents in preparation for an appeal after he failed a doping test during the 19th Asian Games.
Tolentino on Saturday said he has spoken with the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas and Brownlee’s representatives, who are looking into the medications prescribed to the Gilas naturalized player when he was dealing with an injury.
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Brownlee underwent surgery to remove bone spurs in his ankle prior to his Asian Games stint.
“Ang inaasikaso na muna niya ‘yung mga medical documents niya at kung ano ‘yung pinrescribe sa kanya nung nasa medication siya sa United States ng doctor, certifications that will be needed in case mag-appeal after the opening of B sample and if after the opening, nag-positive uli,” said Tolentino during the Power and Play program of Noli Eala on 92.3 True FM.
Brownlee faces a two-year suspension from the World Anti-Doping Agency if the B sample comfirms the first positive test.
After a doping test on Oct. 7, Brownlee’s urine sample was found to have contained Carboxy-THC, a drug related to cannabis that is a specified prohibited substance under WADA.
The result of the B sample will be forwarded to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) where the appeal will be filed.
“We were given up to [October] 19 kung susundin namin ‘yung rights ni Brownlee na pupunta ng Beijing at titignan mo ‘yung opening ng B sample, or send a representative or online or waive your rights. Kahit anong mangyari after October 19, the International Testing Agency, for sure, they will schedule an opening of the B sample with or without witnesses.
“If that will be positive again, iimplement na ‘yung two-year suspension. That’s the time that we will file a case sa CAS to appeal and to justify whatever kaya dapat maipon lahat ng medication niya. It’s part of the prohibited but hindi enhancing drugs ‘yun at ginamit talaga when he was injured kung meron nga. Kung mapatunayan at nakita ng CAS, they might lower the suspension to one month to three months,” said Tolentino.
Tolentino believes that Brownlee may have a case if he makes an appeal to CAS since he was recovering from the injury in the US.
“Talagang under medication siya at injured siya. Doon siya nagpapagaling sa US na legal ang whatever medication just like in Europe and just recently in Thailand using THC. ‘Yun ang kailangan malaman kung merong nahaluan or may content of whatever. Hindi lang nadeclare agad na merong ganun so dadaan talaga sa proseso,” said Tolentino.
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