PBA team Brgy. Ginebra will forego appealing the failed doping test of import Justin Brownlee.
Ginebra team manager Alfrancis Chua revealed on Tuesday, October 17, that the team will not appeal to the International Testing Agency, and request the analysis of his B-samples.
"Yung B, iyon pa rin ang ihi niya. Hindi siya i-test ng bagong urine," Chua said during a press briefing.
The PBA and the Gin Kings, meanwhile, have yet to receive any information regarding the possible sanctions against Brownlee.
"We have not yet heard any sanctions yet for Brownlee. We will await those sanctions. If there are any official violations then that is the time for us to respond," said Ricky Vargas, chairperson of the PBA Board of Governors.
"We are just gonna wait kung anong sasabihin nila saka ng SBP. As of now, wait and see kami kung anong gagawin kay Brownlee," Chua echoed.
ITA reported on Thursday, October 12, that a sample collected from Brownlee tested positive for Carboxy-THC, a specified Prohibited Substance, according to the Prohibited List of the World Anti-Doping Agency.
Brownlee has been placed under provisional suspension following the failed doping test.
ITA collected the sample on October 7, a day after the gold medal match between Gilas Pilipinas and Jordan in the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China.
Brownlee scored 20 points for the Philippine National Men's Basketball team to emerge victorious against Jordan, 70-60, in the finals.
While Ginebra waits for direction from the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP), Chua confirmed the team has started to search for a replacement import in the upcoming Commissioner's Cup of PBA Season 48.
"As of now, naghahanap kami ng replacement just in case. Hindi namin alam kung too late but if we just going to wait, and then biglang ibagsak sa amin yung bomba, mawawalan naman kaming import," Chua said.
