Governing Bodies
Cameroon’s Andre Onana’s doping ban reduced by CAS
The 12-month ban from football imposed on Cameroon international goalkeeper, Andre Onana has been reduced to nine months following an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
Onana who features for Dutch side, had his hearing at CAS earlier this month and after a four-hour online session and further deliberation, Onana will be allowed to resume training from 4 September onwards – before being allowed to compete again from 4 November.
The decision was announced on Ajax’s official website, and could help pave the way for a move to Arsenal this summer – with the faltering Premier League giants believed to have been awaiting the outcome of the hearing before deciding whether or not to pursue a deal with the Eredivisie champions.
Confirming the reduction of Onana’s ban, a CAS statement in regards to his appeal read: “In coming to its decision, the CAS Panel also found that no “significant fault” could be attributed to Andre Onana who had ingested medication destined for another person in error.
On that basis, the panel considered that a 9-month ban was proportionate to the negligence committed and reduced the suspension by three months, but could not accept the goalkeeper’s request for the removal of the suspension entirely.”
Onana failed a drugs test last October when the banned substance Furosemide was identified in his urine sample. The Cameroon international insisted it was the result of human error and that he took his wife’s medication by mistake due to the packaging being ‘almost identical’.
He’s since been linked with a move to the Premier League and Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal, and has just one year remaining on his contract. Ajax are understood to be willing to do a deal, and his availability from November onwards could go a long way towards a move being agreed.
Onana kept nine clean sheets in his 20 Eredivisie appearances for Ajax prior to being banned, and is known for being good with the ball at his feet. That’s a trait that will appeal to Arteta, who has continued to encourage current Gunners number one Bernd Leno to play out from the back despite the German making errors that have led to goals.
The president of the Confédération of African Football, Dr. Patrice Motsepe, has announced five new CAF Vice Presidents. They are:
- CAF First Vice President: Mr Fouzi Lekjaa (Morocco)
- CAF Second Vice President: Mr Kurt Okraku (Ghana)
- CAF Third Vice President: Mr Pierre-Alain Mounguengui (Gabon)
- CAF Fourth Vice President: Ms Bestine Kazadi Ditabala (Democratic Republic of Congo)
- CAF Fifth Vice President: Mr Feizal Sidat (Mozambique)
In addition, the CAF President has co-opted Yacine Idriss Diallo, President of Fédération Ivoirienne de football, into the CAF Executive Committee.
The CAF Executive Committee also approved the names to fill vacant positions on several CAF Committees.
Organising Committee for the African Nations Championship (CHAN)
- President: Pierre-Alain Mounguengui (Gabon)
CAF Technical and Development Committee
- President: Samuel Eto’o (Cameroon)
- Vice President: Malouche Belhassen (Tunisia)
CAF Medical Committee:
- President: Dr. Mohammed Bouya (Mauritania)
- Vice President: Dr. Thulani Ngwenya (South Africa)
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Governing Bodies
Nigeria becoming an epicentre of global badminton as Francis Orbih enters the Badminton World Federation Council
Laurels on the courts and now glory in the boardroom sums up the mark that badminton is making in Nigeria.
The President, Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN), Francis Orbih, has been elected as a council member of the Badminton World Federation (BWF).
The election took place during the BWF Annual General Meeting on Saturday in Xiamen, China.
Orbih emerged victorious over top contenders from other African countries.
He will join Cameroon’s Odette Assembe Engoulou on the council, while Chipo Zumburani (Zimbabwe) and Hadia ElSaid (Egypt) missed out.
An elated Orbih expressed his gratitude to fellow badminton presidents across the globe for their trust and support.
He said, “I am deeply honoured by the trust placed in me by my peers across the badminton world.
“I look forward to quality representation, driving development initiatives, and strengthening badminton’s global reach over the next four years.”
Orbih also acknowledged the support of the Federal Government of Nigeria, particularly the National Sports Commission (NSC), which he said played a significant role in his successful bid.
“The Chairman and the Director General of the NSC monitored the entire process. I’m grateful for their involvement and confident Nigeria will benefit from this,” he stated.
He further appreciated the BFN board members and the Nigerian badminton community for their prayers and continued belief in his leadership.
“From the day I declared my intentions, the board members of BFN have been supportive, and I promise not to disappoint them,” Orbih concluded.
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A former member of the FIFA Council, Mamoutou Toure, has been released from jail in Mali after almost two years in detention for alleged corruption, Malian media reports said on Wednesday.
Toure, president of the Malian Football Federation since 2019, was released after 622 days in prison on Tuesday.
He served on the FIFA Council, world football’s all-powerful decision-making body, for four years until last month when he lost his seat after failing to contest new elections.
The 67-year-old was arrested in August 2023 on allegations of embezzling $28 million of public funds but was granted a provisional release order by the Malian courts, reports said.
He was accused of misconduct during his time as the National Assembly’s financial and administrative director from 2013-2019.
Toure denied all charges and, during his time in jail, was last August re-elected as Malian Football Federation president for a second consecutive term, with his supporters claiming he was a victim of a conspiracy fuelled by detractors.
While in jail, he received a letter of support from FIFA president Gianni Infantino. However, as of last month, Toure is no longer a member of the FIFA Council or the Confederation of African Football’s executive committee.
-Reuters
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