Justin Brownlee Fails Doping Test After Winning Gold in Asian Games
Basketball player Justin Brownlee tested positive in the doping test of 19th Asian Games 2023 after Gilas Pilipinas take home gold.
The American-born Brownlee has failed a doping test, according to the International Testing Agency (ITA) based in Lausanne. The disclosure came following the Philippines’ victory in the 19th Asian Games, where they secured their first basketball gold since 1962.
Brownlee, who played a significant role in helping the Gilas Pilipinas team at the 19th Asian Games, tested positive for Carboxy-THC. Carboxy-THC is linked to cannabis use, said ITA.
The sample was collected during an in-competition anti-doping control conducted by the ITA at the Asian Games Hangzhou 2022 on October 7, 2023. The athlete has been informed of the situation and retains the right to request the analysis of the B-sample, based on ITA article.
The Gilas Pilipinas defeated Jordan with a score of 70-60 in the men’s basketball final on October 6, during which Brownlee contributed 20 points and 10 rebounds. The Asian Games concluded on the following Sunday.
In addition to Brownlee, Filipina cyclist Ariana Evangelista also failed a doping test at the Asian Games. She was provisionally suspended but has the right to request testing of her B-sample.
Notably, Brownlee is the second Gilas player in recent years to test positive for a prohibited substance. In 2018, Kiefer Ravena faced a doping test issue following his game in the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers against Japan and was suspended for 18 months until shortly before the 2019 World Cup.
The ITA also reported that Jordan’s basketball player Sami Bzai tested positive for a banned steroid. Like the other athletes, Bzai has the right to request the analysis of the B-samples. These cases bring the total number of known doping instances at the Games to 10.
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