Sports

FIFA slams 18 months ban on Ivorian goalkeeper, Sylvain Gbohouo for testing positive for trimetazidine

Published

12 months ago

June 14, 2022

The Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) has announced that Ivorian goalkeeper, Sylvain Gbohouo has been suspended until June 23, 2023, after testing positive for the banned drug trimetazidine.

A statement by the world’s football governing body says the “the presence of the prohibited substance in his sample, the player was found to be in violation of article 6 of the Fifa Anti-Doping Regulations as read in conjunction with article 17 of the Fifa Disciplinary Code.

The 33-year-old tested positive after a World Cup qualifier Côte d’Ivoire’s 1-0 loss to Cameroon in the World Cup 2022 qualifier in November. He missed the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in January after being provisionally suspended for the offence.

Trimetazidine (TMZ) is a medication used to treat heart-related conditions like angina. It helps metabolize fatty acids, which helps your body use oxygen. The drug allows for more blood flow to your heart and limits quick changes in your blood pressure.

The goalie explained that the substance was ingested without an intention to dope. He said he had visited an ophthalmologist who prescribed Vastarel, a drug whose active ingredient is trimetazidine, on 29 March 2021.

Although the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) normally provides for a four-year suspension for a positive test, Fifa’s disciplinary committee ruled that the Ivorian goalkeeper had “unintentionally” ingested the banned substance and had not committed any “significant” fault, reducing his sanction to 18 months from 23 December 2021.

Related Topics:Featured Ivory Coast Sylvain Gbohouo

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Sports

Ndidi, Iheanacho, Daka suffer relegation with Leicester City

Published

10 hours ago

May 29, 2023

Akanimoh Etim

The three African players at Leicester City, Nigerian internationals, Wilfred Ndidi and Kelechi Iheanacho, as well as Zambian striker, Patson Daka, will have to contend with Championship football next season as Leicester was relegated from the English Premier League on Sunday.

Despite defeating West Ham 2-1 in the final game of the season, Leicester were relegated following Everton’s 1-0 win against Bournemouth.

Iheanacho grabbed an assist in the West Ham win but it was not enough to stop Leicester City from being relegated from the Premier League.

While Ndidi and Daka were missing from the game through injury, Iheanacho started and played 77 minutes, providing an assist for Harvey Barnes’ opening goal in the eventual 2-1 win.

His assist and the eventual win for Leicester on the final day were not enough to rescue their season however, as Everton’s 1-0 win over Bournemouth ensured that they finished above Leicester in the final non-relegation place in the league.

If they remain with the team next season, the African trio will face the ignominy of playing in the lower cader of English football.

Sports

History made as Al Ahly wins BAL 2023 at first attempt

Published

2 days ago

May 28, 2023

Akanimoh Etim

Al Ahly Basketball Club of Egypt has written its name in the annals of history after it was crowned champions of the 2023 Basketball Africa League on Saturday, in its first attempt.

The Cairo giants defeated Senegal’s AS Douanes in the finals played at the BK Arena in Kigali, Rwanda, 80-65 to win the 2023 BAL title.

The win marked Al Ahly’s first-ever appearance in the BAL finals in their first-ever appearance in the competition, similar to their opponents, AS Douanes of Senegal

Al Ahly which entered the Nile Conference of the BAL as Egypt 2022 Egyptian Super League champions, started the competition with a bang as they won four out of the five games to reach the playoffs.

The Reds went on to beat hosts REG and Malian giants stade malien to reach the playoffs finals which was for the third consecutive season.

In the finals proper, Al Ahly waited for the third quarter to inflict a final blow to beat AS Douanes 80-65 to win the BAL title after a low scoring first half that saw Al Ahly heading to the locker room with slim 38-33 lead.

Star man, Nuni Omot led the way for Al Ahly, finishing with a game-high 22 points, with Corey Webster adding 13 points off the bench.

Omot was named the 2023 Hakeem Olajuwon BAL MVP award winner, as Al Ahly became the second Egyptian side to win the tournament since Zamalek won the inaugural BAL season.