By Jon Essien
Enyimba Captain, Austin Oladapo has been handed a one-year ban from football related activities, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced.
According to CAF, Oladapo breached the FIFA Anti-doping rule, in the wake of Enyimba’s 4-1 Confederation Cup loss to Pyramid of Egypt in May.
The midfielder’s suspension was announced in a statement released on CAF website on Monday.
The statement read: “The result of the player Oladapo Augustine urine test in Bottle “A” which was collected in match N °153 between Pyramids FC (Egypt) Vs Enyimba FC (Nigeria), played on 16th of May 2021 in the frame of Total CAF Confederation Cup 2020/2021 was considered positive due to the presence of a prohibited substances “Prednisolone/Prednisone”.
CAF said, the Nigeria Football Federation was informed of Oladapo’s result, and had been told to present the player for the analysis of sample “B”, if he wishes. But the player, according to his club, elected not to.
The statement continued: “The club had indicated that any trace of the prohibited substance might have resulted from the prescribed medication the player was on during the same period, and they have communicated the club’s doctor’s report detailing the medications that were prescribed.
“The player Oladapo Augustine was provisionally suspended from all football activities until a final decision is rendered by CAF Disciplinary Board.
“The player was represented during CAF Disciplinary Board hearing held on 14th July 2021 by the club’s physician as well as the club’s lawyer”.
Despite confirmation of the player’s clean record from the Team Physician, who said Oladapo had not intended to enhance his performance by consuming the prescribed medications, CAF through its disciplinary board handed the 26-year-old a 12-month suspension, beginning from July 4, 2021.
