Justin Brownlee received the green-light to suit up for Gilas Pilipinas in the upcoming February window of the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers.
The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) confirmed that Brownlee can play in the games against Hong Kong on February 22, and Chinese Taipei on Februry 25 after FIBA decided to slap a retroactive three-month suspension against him for a failed doping test.
Even before FIBA released the decision, SBP has named Brownlee as the naturalized player of Gilas Pilipinas in the upcoming matches.
"We're elated that the consequences FIBA issued does not prevent Justin Brownee to play for Gilas in the upcoming window," SBP president Al Panlilio said in a statement issued on Saturday, February 3.
"Having him as our naturalized player alongside some of our locals that he has already played with before will be beneficial to the squad," Panlilio added.
Brownlee helped the Philippine national men's basketball team to win the gold medal in the 19th Asian Games held in Hangzhou, China last October and ended the more than six-decades title drought of the Filipinos in the event.
However, days after defeating Jordan in the finals and winning the gold, the International Testing Agency reported that Brownlee tested positive for Carboxy-THC, a specified Prohibited Substance, according to the Prohibited List of the World Anti-Doping Agency.
While FIBA did not immediately slap a penalty, Brownlee has not seen action since the announcement of the ITA, and the resident import of Brgy. Ginebra even missed out on the title defense of the squad in the PBA Commissioner's Cup.
"Brownlee not playing a game since the gold-medal winning effort against Jordan hastened his return to the national team along with the fact the that banned substance he used was taken out-of-competition and unrelated to performance enhancement," SBP said.
SBP executive director and FIBA Legal Commission chairperson Erika Dy earlier said that if FIBA decides to impose a retroactive three-month suspension, Brownlee can suit up for Gilas Pilipinas as early as February 8.
