DYNAMOS midfielder Devon Chafa has been suspended from football after testing positive for a banned substance, FIFA announced on Monday.
Chafa was suspended for an initial period of 30 days to allow for “disciplinary proceedings following an adverse analytical finding in relation to a doping control conducted after the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier between Zimbabwe and Egypt played in Harare on June 9, 2013.”
A FIFA statement said: “After receiving the ‘A’ sample result, which was positive for a prohibited substance included in WADA’s 2013 prohibited list, the player did not request the analysis of the ‘B’ sample within the deadline granted.
“The decision taken by the chairman of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee was duly notified to the Zimbabwe Football Association on August 30. The player has until September 9 to inform FIFA whether he wishes to request a hearing.
“Irrespective of whether or not the player requests a hearing, the player and/or the Zimbabwean Football Association have until September 16 to submit a statement and all related and supporting documentary evidence.”
Although FIFA said the decision to suspend the player was communicated to ZIFA on August 30, Chafa played for Dynamos on Sunday, September 1, as they lost the BancABC Sup8r semi-final to Shabanie Mine on penalties at Barbourfields.
The substance has been identified as prednisone. It can be found in many different treatments including medication for asthma, allergic disorders, severe tuberculosis and as part of a drug regimen to prevent rejection post-organ transplant.
Prednisone has also been used in the treatment of migraine headaches and is important in the treatment of acute leukemia and other hormone-sensitive tumors, in combination with other anticancer drugs.
ZIFA officials say Chafa’s family doctor has submitted evidence that the player took the banned substance as part of his medication for an undisclosed ailment.Advertisement