Chafa gets six-month ban

Augustine Hwata Senior Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE international midfielder Devon Chafa has been suspended for an effective six months, ruling him out for the rest of the season, after being found guilty of using a prohibited substance by Fifa. The Dynamos midfielder will also miss the CHAN finals in South Africa next year.

His ban is effective from August 30, which means that he has already served one of the six months, and will run until February next year, making him available for the start of the new domestic season.

Fifa had provisionally suspended Chafa when traces of a prohibited substance were found in a urine sample taken after the Warriors’ World Cup qualifier against Egypt at the National Sports Stadium on June 9.

Chafa, who was flanked by his manager Gibson Mahachi and Warriors team doctor Nicholas Munyonga, cast a brave figure during a Press conference in the capital yesterday.

He was relieved that Fifa had not opted for a maximum two-year ban.
“If I look at it, it could have been a two-year suspension but it has been pegged at six months. So, in other words, I would be happy to serve the six months instead of the two years and that’s how it will be.

“A sportsman will never rest and I will continue training like what I have been doing. It’s only six months and by the end of February I could be in football again.

“I have something that I do but I cannot tell people everything that I do. This is not a verdict I had expected but such is life and I have to take whatever comes my way and in this case I will accept the decision made and it’s six months with immediate effect.

“I will be a spectator for that time,” said Chafa. Mahachi said “something was coming up for Devon during the January transfer window.”
It now means Chafa is ineligible for the Castle Lager Soccer Star of the Year Awards.

His club Dynamos said they will eagerly await his return to action with chairman Kenny Mubaiwa pointing out that he remains in their plans for next season. Munyonga said Fifa would furnish Chafa and Zifa with their reasons for the verdict in due course.

“The Fifa Disciplinary Committee decided on 10 October to sanction the Zimbabwean international player Chafa Devon Taitamba, who had been provisionally suspended in August for an anti-doping rule violation following a doping control conducted after the match of the preliminary competition of the 2014 Fifa World Cup Brazil played in Harare, Zimbabwe on 9 June 2013,” Fifa said in a statement.

“The player has been declared ineligible for a period of six months after testing positive for prednisone — a substance included on WADA’s 2013 Prohibited List under the class ‘S9. Glucocorticosteroids.’

“By testing positive for a prohibited substance, the player has violated article 6 of the Fifa Anti-Doping Regulations. As such, he has contravened Article 63 of the Fifa Disciplinary Code.

“The suspension period starts from 30 August 2013, the date from which the player was provisionally suspended by the chairman of the Disciplinary Committee. The suspension covers all types of matches, including domestic, international, friendly and official fixtures.”
No costs will be borne by Chafa.

Mahachi said while the ban was a setback, it did not mean the end of Chafa’s career.
“Naturally the suspension is a blow because there was something coming up for Devon in January but that is not the end of it.

“The fact that he is going to move is still there, come June/July next season so this will have limited effects on his career,” said Mahachi.
Mubaiwa said Chafa would remain in their plans for next season and feels  his absence has been felt in recent matches.

“He is still our player and we hope by the end of his ban he will be okay. We will consider him in our programmes like registration for Champions League if we make it next season,” said Mubaiwa.

Warriors coach Ian “Dibango’’ Gorowa, speaking from his base in Johannesburg, said he was also very saddened by the ban.
“It’s rather unfortunate for him and the nation. We had hoped that Fifa would be lenient but they took a decision and we have to look around and see who can replace him in the national team.

“I am sure we have enough players in the country hopefully someone will grab this chance while Devon is not involved for now,’’ Gorowa said.

Munyonga said there was need to boost awareness among the athletes and the doctors on issues related to doping.

“We have clearly seen here that the player took this drug unknowingly but he has been sanctioned and will be ineligible for six months,” said Munyonga.