Ace Cameroonian skipper, André Onana, who is currently plying his trade with AFC Ajax, has reacted to his 12-month suspension from football by the European football body, UEFA.
Reacting to the ban, Onana said even though he respects the UEFA Appeals Body, he does not identify himself with the decision and has vowed to appeal.
“I will appeal the decision before the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) to prove my innocence and clear my name,” he said.
The 24 year-old explained that “I mistook the medicine 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”.
André Onana argued that the one-year ban is excessive and disproportionate given that UEFA itself had acknowledged that it was an unintentional mistake.
While quoting his excellent conduct, sportsmanship and recent exploits, the stopper furthered that “I am 24 years 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 past four years and in Africa for the last three years.
“I want to say that I have no need to resort to doping to enhance my sporting career”.
Embattled Onana’s urine tested positive for a substance prohibited in all sports disciplines called furosemide, last October 2020 during an out of competition check and he was slammed a one-year ban from football by UEFA for violating doping regulations.
