Ajax goalkeeper Onana’s ban for doping cut to 9 months

By: The Associated Press Posted: 8:12 AM CDT Thursday, Jun. 10, 2021 Last Modified: 10:02 AM CDT Thursday, Jun. 10, 2021

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LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) — Ajax goalkeeper André Onana had his ban for a positive doping test cut to nine months on Thursday and can resume playing in November.

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LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) — Ajax goalkeeper André Onana had his ban for a positive doping test cut to nine months on Thursday and can resume playing in November.

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This article was published 10/06/2021 (1895 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) — Ajax goalkeeper André Onana had his ban for a positive doping test cut to nine months on Thursday and can resume playing in November.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport found Onana was not at significant fault and reduced his one-year ban by UEFA.

The ban now ends on Nov. 3 and Ajax said Onana will be allowed to restart training with his teammates on Sept. 4, two months before the ban expires.

FILE - In this Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2020 file photo, Ajax's goalkeeper Andre Onana looks on during their Champions League group D soccer match against Liverpool at Anfield stadium in Liverpool, England. Onana had his ban for a positive doping test cut to nine months, and will now Nov. 3. The Court of Arbitration for Sport on Thursday, June 10, 2021 said its judges found Onana was not at significant fault and cut his one-year ban by UEFA. (Michael Regan/Pool via AP, file)

The ruling could see Arsenal step up its reported interest in signing the 25-year-old Onana, who is cleared to play for Cameroon at the African Cup of Nations in January.

Ajax could sell Onana now for a transfer fee because he could leave as a free agent when his contract with the club expires after next season.

Onana tested positive last October for furosemide, a banned diuretic often used as a masking agent to hide the presence of other drugs.

He said he was feeling unwell and took a pill prescribed for his girlfriend from a packet he mistook for aspirin “because the packaging was almost identical.”

Anti-doping rules make athletes liable for banned substances in their body, though they can argue they were not at fault nor negligent.

The court said its judges “considered that a 9-month ban was proportionate to the negligence committed … but could not accept the goalkeeper’s request for the removal of the suspension entirely.”

The case was fast-tracked with the verdict given eight days after the appeal hearing.

The three-month reduction meant it “was worth it taking this case to the CAS,” said Ajax chief executive Edwin van der Sar.

“I have mixed feelings about today’s verdict because our aim was that he would be back playing games this summer,” said Van der Sar, the club’s goalkeeping great.

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