Brownlee awaits FIBA final verdict on doping issue

SAMAHANG Basketbol ng Pilipinas President Al Panlilio said Gilas naturalized player Justin Brownlee has already complied with FIBA’s required documentation pertaining to the anti-doping test he flunked last year and are now waiting for the world basketball governing body’s final verdict.

It can be recalled that the 35-year-old Brownlee failed the anti-doping test after being tested positive for carboxy-THC, a substance linked to cannabis use during Gilas’ historic run in the 2023 Asian Games men’s basketball gold in Hangzhou, China.

“It’s finally reached FIBA, sometime early or mid-December. I think there were just some documentation and replies Justin had to do that he submitted already because the deadline was last Monday, January 8, and we’re just waiting for FIBA’s final decision,” Panlilio said during his guesting at former PBA commissioner Noli Eala’s Power and Play sports program on Saturday.

Panlilio believes Brownlee’s decision not to suit up for Barangay Ginebra in the ongoing PBA Season 48 Commissioner’s Cup was a “good decision.”

“I think he (Brownlee) started to serve time, from the time the testing was done, sometime October 7 or 8, that’s been counted already as time served,” he stressed.

“We did guide Justin, ‘don’t play, stop playing for now.’ And whatever decision that comes out, your time served started October 7.”

Brownlee underwent a doping test on October 7 last year, and his urine sample contained Carboxy-THC, a drug related to cannabis, a prohibited substance under WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency).

Panlilio said they are hoping for a favorable decision on Brownlee, who has given his all in leading Gilas Pilipinas to the Asian Games men’s basketball gold, ending the country’s 61-year title drought in the process.

“Hoping it’s just a short suspension and hope the time served has covered [any possible suspension from FIBA]. [But] wishing against it, and hoping we can bring him to the next window,” he added.

Gilas at this point, has yet to form a team since winning the Asian Games under all-time PBA winning coach Tim Cone.

The Philippines is scheduled to compete in the FIBA Asia Cup qualifier for 2025 with Gilas bunched in Group B with New Zealand, Chinese Taipei, along with Hong Kong.

The qualifiers will be played across three windows in February 2024, November 2024 and February 2025 in a home-and-away format.