Baniyas defender Thamer Mohammed hit with three-month ban by UAE Anti-Doping Committee

The UAE Anti-Doping Committee reduced a two-year suspension for Mohammed, 29, after he was able to prove he had sibutramine, an anti-obesity drug banned by many governing bodies in world sport, in his system inadvertently.

Baniyas defender Thamer Mohammed, left, had a ban reduced from two years to three months after proving he had taken a banned substance inadvertently. Satish Kumar / The National

DUBAI // The Baniyas defender Thamer Mohammed has been banned for three months after failing a drugs test.

Samples taken from Mohammed on November 24, following Baniyas’ 3-2 win at Emirates, showed traces of sibutramine, effectively an anti-obesity drug that is banned by governing bodies in almost all professional sports.

The UAE’s Anti-Doping Committee (UAEADC) had initially decided to ban Mohammed, 29, for two years as per Article 10-2 of their rule book, which calls for a two-year suspension for the “presence or use, or attempt to use or possession of restricted substances”.

The suspension, however, was reduced to three months after the player was able to prove he took the substance inadvertently, through a herbal supplement – Hoodia gordonii, which suppresses appetite – he was taking as he recovered from an injury.

His three-month ban started retroactively from December 23 and he will not be available for selection till March 22.

“During his hearing, the players presented a medical report which showed he was out for a month because of injury,” read a statement issued by the Disciplinary Committee of the UAEADC. “During this period, the players started taking a herbal weight-loss supplement, since he was not able to train to maintain his fitness and weight.

“We were able to confirm through hospital reports, CT scans, as well as the list of matches Baniyas played through the period, the player’s claims that he was out of action for a month because of the injury.

“Sibutramine features on World Anti-Doping Agency’s list of banned substances for 2013, but since the players was able to prove the substance entered his body through the use of a weight-loss supplement, the Disciplinary Committee decided to reduce his sentence as per Article 10-4 of the UAEADC rules, which provides for the abolition or reduction of the period of suspension for the presence of specific substances under exceptional circumstances.”

The announcement has been made as per Article 15 of the UAEADC rules, which calls for the official announcement of a doping violation within 20 days of the decision made by the Disciplinary Committee, and the player has the right to appeal the decision within two weeks from the date of the notification of the decision.