Enyimba and Nigeria midfielder Augustine Oladapo has been banned from football for a year for a doping violation, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) said.
The 26-year-old tested positive in the frame of a African Confederation Cup match in May when the banned substance prednisone was found in his urine sample.
CAF ban takes effect from 4th July 2021, the date of notification of the provisional suspension, and ends on same month in 2022.
The result is that the player is now suspended from all football activity, both within Nigeria and internationally.
Enyimba and Oladapo are expected to appeal the decision to the CAF Appeal Board against the suspension, imposed by CAF Disciplinary Committee.
In an interview with Nigerian journalist Adepoju Samuel, the player denied taking any drug that was not prescribed by doctors.
“I don’t take drugs if the team doctor didn’t prescribe for me. I had pains when we were preparing for the game & I took pain killers prescribed by the team doctor,” Oladapo said.
[perfectpullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]“I don’t drink and smoke. I am shocked.”[/perfectpullquote]
Excerpts from CAF portal state that the results of the first test was known 18th June 2021 when Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) was informed of the result and asked the player to indicate if he wishes to request the analysis of sample “B”.
Enyimba replied NFF indicating that they player has elected to not request the analysis of the ‘B’ sample, with the club stating that the prohibited substance might have resulted from the prescribed medication the player was on during the same period.
Oladapo joined the Aba Elephant from Gombe United four seasons ago and was instrumental in Enyimba campaign in the 2020/2021 CAF Confederation Cup where the team reached the group stages.
He had decent 2016-17 season for Gombe United scoring ten league goals before the People’s Elephants secured his services, on a long-term deal.
