Andre Onana after been handed a one-year ban from European Football governing body UEFA over the use of forbidden drugs that are deemed to enhance the performance of athletes has voiced his side of the story.
Onana whose urine sample was tested confirmed traces of drugs forbidden to athletes and made known to authorities his constant reproach to drug use and his healthy living habits and had no intention of using the forbidden drug to enhance his performance since he has been in good shape for over four years of his professional and national career.
Shortly after the release by UEFA, Andre Onana came out to assure his fans of his regret and his intention to appeal the decision at CAS.
“Hello everyone, I wanted to inform you that the UEFA Appeals Body has imposed a 12-month ban on me, with immediate effect, for having tested positive in an anti-doping control, carried out in October 2020. I just want to clarify that everything was the result of a human mistake. I mistook a medicine containing a substance banned by WADA for a simple aspirin. The medicine was prescribed to my girlfriend and I mistakenly took it for an aspirin because the packaging was almost identical which I greatly regret.”
“I have to say that I respect the UEFA Appeals Body, but I do not share their decision in this case. I consider it excessive and disproportionate as it has been acknowledged by UEFA that it was an unintentional mistake. Everyone knows that I lead a very healthy life, and since I started my sporting career, I have always been strongly against any use of doping and I condemn any unsportsmanlike conduct. I am 24 years old and during the last few seasons I have been lucky enough to play almost every minute, both for Ajax and for my national team, being named the best goalkeeper in Holland for the last four years and in Africa for the last three years. I want to say that I have no need to resort to doping to further enhance my sporting career.”
“I will appeal the decision before the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) to prove my innocence and clear my name. I hope to be back on the pitch soon to do what I love and help my teammates. I would like to thank Ajax and the Cameroon national team for their support and confidence in me.”
With his words of confidence, many have shared their solidarity with the young shot stopper and urged him on for positivity during his urge for an appeal.
