Arsenal target Andre Onana’s doping ban reduced

Ajax goalkeeper Andre Onana’s doping-induced suspension has reduced to nine months, allowing him to return to action on November 4. Arsenal have been heavily linked with the Cameroon international, who could now be available this summer after his ban was shortened by three months.

During February this year, the 25-year-old was found to be positive for Furosemide and was effectively banned for a year. Ajax had contested the verdict, claiming that he had mistakenly taken his wife’s medicines. The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) lowered the period on Thursday, considering the fact that he had taken the drug by accident and there was no “significant fault.”

Ajax made the following statement, “The international Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has made a ruling appeal in the case of Andre Onana versus the UEFA. The goalkeeper was previously suspended for twelve months by the European football association because of a violation of the doping rules. The CAS has now determined in appeal that the suspension will be reduced to nine months. The suspension shall now end 4 November 2021 and up to that time, it covers all football activities, both national as international. The goalkeeper is allowed to restart his training two months before the end of the suspension which will be on 4 September 2021.”

Ajax has signed Onana to a contract that extends through June 30, 2022. Onana delivered his side of the tale to three CAS arbitrators during a four-hour online conference on June 2nd, Wednesday morning, with the help of his lawyers and Ajax. The CAS was asked not to issue a punishment or to impose a penalty that was significantly less than the UEFA’s previous twelve-month penalty. However, UEFA’s stance on the case remained constant. The European Football Association still sought the CAS to uphold the 12-month penalty.

“With this CAS verdict, we have won three months in compared to the initial suspension,” Ajax CEO and club legend Edwin van der Sar remarked. As a result, it was worthwhile to take this case to the CAS. He added, “We are advocates for a clean sport. By the way, I’ll reiterate that we believe Andre took this chemical by accident, and not to improve his performance.”

After having his ban cut, Onana is anticipated to cost roughly 7.75 million pounds. The goalkeeper is under contract with the Dutch giants until the summer of 2022. Since he unlikely to sign an extension, so signing him in January would be even cheaper for Arsenal.