NLEX Road Warriors rookie and Gilas Pilipinas guard Kiefer Ravena has been suspended by international sports organization FIBA for 18 months after he failed to pass his drug test
In a press conference, the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) said FIBA officials contacted them to relay the news about Ravena’s failure to pass the drug exam conducted after Philippine national team Gilas Pilipinas’s game against Japan on February 25.
According to FIBA, Ravena tested positive for three banned substances: Higenamine, 1,3-Dimethylbutylamine, and 4-Methylhexan-2-amine.
Ravena will be suspended for 18 months beginning February 25, 2018 to August 24, 2019.
Honest mistake
Before Gilas’s game against Japan, Ravena took a pre-workout drink called DUST which is believed to contain the substances banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
The drink was not Ravena’s usual pre-workout drink. It was recommended to Ravena when he ran out of his usual drink.
Unbeknownst to the basketball player, the drink contained the substances he tested positive for.
“I am in front of you guys to take full responsibility for my actions, despite how painful and dreadful it is,” Ravena said.
“I regret taking this pre-workout drink without analyzing or taking extra time to research its ingredients.”
Atty. Aga Francisco from the SBP clarified that the drink itself is not illegal in the Philippines. The drink, in fact, can be bought over the counter in the country.
“So it’s not illegal,” Francisco added. “You take it, you buy it, you go to the gym.”
FIBA has since acknowledged Ravena’s consumption of the drink as an “honest mistake”. However, SBP president Al Panlilio said not knowing the ingredients of the drinks players consume is inexcusable.
“It’s up to the player to assess whether it’s banned or not. Ignorance is not an excuse,” Panlilio said.
Ravena’s sanctions
With his suspension, Ravena will miss the rest of the FIBA World Cup games.
Ravena’s game numbers average at 7.3 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game for Gilas Pilipinas.
Ravena even surpassed his usual numbers in their game against Japan where he scored 13 points off-the-bench giving Gilas the crucial win 89-84.
The basketball star, however, accepted the consequences of his mistakes wholeheartedly.
“I am a responsible man, and I will face the consequences, no matter how painful and life changing,” said Ravena.
“We agreed to make this an advocacy, and for me to be an instrument for the education of the Filipino athlete,” he added.
