Zimbabwean player provisionally suspended following anti-doping tests

GENEVA, Switzerland, September 2, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The chairman of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee has provisionally suspended a Zimbabwean international footballer for an initial period of 30 days and opened disciplinary proceedings following an adverse analytical finding in relation to a doping control conducted after the 2014 FIFA World Cup™ qualifier between Zimbabwe and Egypt played in Harare, Zimbabwe on 9 June 2013.

After receiving the “A” sample result, which was positive for a prohibited substance included in WADA’s 2013 prohibited list, the player did not request the analysis of the “B” sample within the deadline granted.

The decision taken by the chairman of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee was duly notified to the Zimbabwe Football Association on 30 August. The player has until 9 September to inform FIFA whether he wishes to request a hearing. Irrespective of whether or not the player requests a hearing, the player and/or the Zimbabwean Football Association have until 16 September to submit a statement and all related and supporting documentary evidence.

By testing positive for a prohibited substance, the player has contravened article 63 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code. The decision to provisionally suspend the player was taken in accordance with articles 38ff of the FIFA Anti-Doping Regulations and articles 129ff of the FIFA Disciplinary Code.

In line with article 74 paragraph 2 of the FIFA Anti-Doping Regulations, only after it has been determined in a hearing that an anti-doping rule violation has occurred, or after such hearing has been waived, or the assertion of an anti-doping rule violation has not been timely challenged, may FIFA publicly report the anti-doping rule that has been violated, the name of the player who has committed the violation, the prohibited substance and the consequences imposed.