Ajax goalkeeper, Andre Onana, has had his doping ban reduced to nine months by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

It means he will be able to play again from November 4.

Arsenal are interested in the Cameroon international and could now decide to take him this summer after his ban was reduced by three months.

Onana, 25, tested positive for Furosemide and was banned for a year in February of this year, though Ajax appealed the decision, contesting that he accidentally took his wife’s medication.

On Thursday, CAS reduced the period as there was no “significant fault” as he had taken the medication by accident.

A statement from Ajax read: “The International Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has made a ruling appeal in the case of Andre Onana versus the UEFA. The goalkeeper was previously suspended for twelve months by the European football association because of a violation of the doping rules. The CAS has now determined in an appeal that the suspension will be reduced to nine months.

“The suspension shall now end 4 November 2021 and up to that time, it covers all football activities, both national as international. The goalkeeper is allowed to restart his training two months before the end of the suspension which will be on 4 September 2021. Onana has a contract with Ajax that runs until 30 June 2022.

“During a four-hour online session on 2 June Wednesday morning Onana told his side of the story to three arbitrators of the CAS and was assisted by his lawyers and Ajax. In this session the CAS was asked not to impose a penalty or a considerably shorter penalty than the twelve months that was previously imposed by the UEFA.

The position of the UEFA was unchanged. The European football association wanted the CAS to stick to the twelve months suspension.”

Ajax chief executive and legendary goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar added: “With this ruling of the CAS we have won three months in comparison to the initial suspension. So it was worth it taking this case to the CAS. We stand for a clean sport. By I will say again that we are convinced that Andre has taken this substance by accident and certainly not to perform better.

“This is endorsed by all parties, also by the UEFA as is to be concluded from the cases both by the UEFA and the CAS.

“Ajax chief executive and legendary goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar added: “With this ruling of the CAS we have won three months in comparison to the initial suspension. So it was worth it taking this case to the CAS. We stand for a clean sport. By I will say again that we are convinced that Andre has taken this substance by accident and certainly not to perform better.

“This is endorsed by all parties, also by the UEFA as is to be concluded from the cases both by the UEFA and the CAS.

TodayNG