MANILA – Gilas Pilipinas’ naturalized player Justin Brownlee has allegedly failed the doping test conducted to him during the 19th Asian Games men’s basketball tournament in Hangzhou, China.
Based on the information released by International Testing Agency (ITA) on Friday, Brownlee’s urine sample returned an adverse analytical finding for carboxy-THC linked to cannabis use, which is prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency.
“The ITA reports that a sample collected from basketball player Justin Brownlee (Philippines) during the 19th Asian Games has returned an Adverse Analytical Finding for a specified prohibited substance,” it said.
“The sample was collected by the ITA at the Asian Games Hangzhou 2022 during an in-competition anti-doping control performed on 7 October 2023. The Sample Collection Authority was the China Anti-Doping Agency,” ITA added.
Additionally, Sami Bzai from the runner-up Jordan’s basketball team was also flagged by ITA after he was tested positive for dehydrochloromethyl-testosterone metabolite, a non-specified prohibited substance.
The agency said in the statement that both Brownlee and Bzai were both informed of their failed doping tests 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 ITA said.
Brownlee was the second Team Philippines member to be flagged by ITA for failed doping test aside from Ilongga mountain bike rider Ariana Dormitorio.
Curiously, Brownlee’s result came after he led the Gilas Pilipinas to a 77-76 upset win over host China in the semifinals round of the Asiad men’s basketball competition.
Brownlee went on to lead the Philippine men’s basketball team to a gold medal finish after they defeat Jordan, 70-60, in the championship match on Oct. 6.
Prior to this year, the last time Philippines won a gold medal in the Asian Games was in 1962, when it defeated China to cop its fourth straight crown in the continental tournament./PN
