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| The ITA clarified that only Justin Brownlee failed the drug test for Gilas. PSC-POC Media Pool (file photo) |
CALOOCAN—The International Testing Agency confirmed on Friday that Gilas Pilipinas gets to keep its Asian Games men's 5x5 basketball gold medal.
The ITA clarified in a statement relayed by the Olympic Council of Asia that only Justin Brownlee tested positive for a prohibited substance during its anti-doping test last week and no one else from the Gilas camp had a similar result.
The ITA also said no Jordanian player other than Sami Bzai failed his own drug test, which means Jordan remains the silver medalist.
According to Article 11.2 of the World Anti-Doping Code, which was adopted in full for this year's Asian Games, a national team will only be stripped of a medal if more than two players test positive for a prohibited substance.
"It was revealed that as no other basketball players from either the Philippines or Jordan had returned an AAF (adverse analytic finding), the team results are not to be disqualified," the ITA said.
The statement confirmed what Philippine Olympic Committee president Bambol Tolentino said earlier Friday and should put into rest speculations from fans about host country China following the reveal of Brownlee and Bzai's drug test results.
What is left now is if Brownlee continues to play beyond the Asian Games.
Brownlee is currently provisionally suspended following his failed anti-doping test, but it can be lifted either if he gets a successful appeal or if his B sample tests negative for carboxy-THC.
Brownlee's camp has until Thursday to appeal the first test result, and then they can proceed to the testing of the B sample.
If Brownlee, though, still tests positive for carboxy-THC in the B sample like in the first test, the Ginebra resident import will be slapped with a two-year ban in all competitions including the PBA and future FIBA-sanctioned events.
The lengthy suspension, however, could end before the 2025 Southeast Asian Games, making him eligible to join Gilas for the biennial meet, which returns to its traditional pre-Christmas schedule for the upcoming edition in Thailand.
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