Amsterdam (AFP)
Ajax Amsterdam goalkeeper Andre Onana has been suspended for one year by UEFA for an anti-doping rule violation, the club announced on its website on Friday.
Traces of furosemide, a diuretic, were found in the urine of the 24-year-old Cameroonian international on October 30 during an unannounced check, the club said in a statement, adding that the player and the club were going to do appeal of the sanction to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
"The suspension is effective from today and applies to all football activities, national and international," the statement added.
Contacted by AFP, the management sticks to the press release published on its site.
According to the club, on October 30, Onana felt unwell and took medication initially intended for his wife.
According to the club, Lasimac (a diuretic and hypotensive) "does not improve the performance" of an athlete.
Reason why the club "did not expect a firm suspension".
"Onana had no intention of cheating. However, UEFA believes, based on the applicable anti-doping rules, that an athlete has a duty at all times to ensure that no prohibited substance enters his body." , notes the club.
For Ajax, this is a second blow in 24 hours.
Thursday, the Franco-Ivorian Sébastien Haller, who arrived at Ajax Amsterdam in early January from West Ham for 22.5 million euros, was not registered for the Europa League.
Haller, the Dutch club's most expensive transfer, cannot therefore compete in the Europa League, for which Ajax will face Lille in the round of 16 on February 18 and 25.
"It's a huge administrative error on our part," said Ajax coach Erik ten Hag.
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