By Amaechi Agbo

Enyimba International FC captain, Oladapo Augustine has been handed a one-year ban from football-related activities by the Confederation of Africa Football, CAF over doping, Bestchoicesport.com.ng can report.

The ban was one of the series of decisions the continent’s football body took on Tuesday.

Oladapo was found guilty of taking a banned substance during their quarter-final match against Pyramids of Egypt in the 2021 CAF Confederation Cup

CAF in a release noted that 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”.

On 18th June 2021, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) was informed of the result and asked the player to indicate if he wishes to request the analysis of sample “B”.

On 22nd June, CAF received the reply of Enyimba club through NFF indicating that the player has elected to not request the analysis of the ‘B’ sample.

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.

According to CAF, Mr Oladapo was represented during CAF Disciplinary Board hearing held on 14th July 2021 by the club’s physician as well as the club’s lawyer.

The Board indicated to the representatives that the player never applied for a therapeutic use exemption and that he is in charge of the substances that enter his body.

The Team physician has highlighted the clean record of the player and that he had no intention for any enhancing his performance by consuming these medications.

After due considerations, CAF rules that:

“In terms of CAF Statutes and regulations;

“In terms of FIFA Antidoping regulations;

“In terms of CAF Disciplinary Code;

“CAF Disciplinary Board decided to suspend the player Augustine Oladapo from all football related activities for a period of twelve (12) months from the date of notification of the provisional suspension namely 4th July 2021.”