Chafa receives support

Grace Chingoma Senior Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE international midfielder, Devon Chafa, received support from his club Dynamos yesterday as he battles the storm triggered by revelations that he is at the centre of a doping tornado with the Glamour Boys saying this will offer him all the help necessary.
The 22-year-old midfielder, who has been the outstanding player in the domestic Premiership this season and is touted as one of the young turks who can transform the Warriors, faces an uncertain future in the game with his fate now in the hands of Fifa’s medical and disciplinary experts. The Zimbabwe international midfielder failed a doping test when his urine samples showed traces of a prohibited substance, prednisolone, after the 2014 World Cup qualifier against Egypt here which the Warriors lost 2-4.

DeMbare have said they will stand by their midfielder and will offer him all the assistance he might need pending the finalisation of his case by Fifa. Kenny Mubaiwa, the Dynamos chairman, said while they await the findings of Fifa and the conclusion of this case, they had no option but to stand with their player.

“When we played Highlanders, Devon got injured on the jaw and it was during that period that he received medication firstly from the team doctors before we got him treated with other doctors as well,” said Mubaiwa.

“We have confidence in Devon and we don’t suspect that he might have used any funny banned substances.
“He is one player whose character is not dubious and maybe if it has been any other player of questionable character we would think otherwise.

“This issue has also comes at a time when he has been in good form and is playing good football. We just hope that this ordeal will not affect him as he awaits Fifa to complete their investigations.

“As a club we are behind Chafa. We will stand by him through the whole process. Without official communication from Zifa or Fifa, we will continue to field and use him.

“Even on Sunday, he would be part of the team that will play in the BancABC semi-final as long as he is fit.”
The Dynamos boss said they have spoken to the player and they were hoping everything would be put to rest as soon as possible.
Yesterday, the management team of Chafa barred the player from commenting on the issue at the moment, which is a very sensible thing to do.

Fifa advised Zifa of the adverse report related to the analysis made on Chafa’s urine sample in a letter jointly signed by the Zurich organisation’s chief medical officer, Jiri Dvorak, and anti-doping manager Tanja Vogel.

“We have been notified by WADA-accredited Doping Control Laboratory in Bloemfontein that the analysis of sample 3408632 taken during the 2014 Fifa World Cup Brazil Qualifying Match Zimbabwe versus Egypt on 9 June 2013 revealed an adverse analytical finding (see enclosed laboratory report),” wrote Dvorak and Vogel.

“The sample 3408632 has been allocated to the player Chafa Devon Taitamba. “The prohibited substance found in the player’s sample is prednisolone and falls in the Class S9 (glucocorticosteroids) of the Prohibited List Applicable regulation.

“We would like to draw the player’s and Zimbabwe Football Association Limited’s attention to the Fifa Anti-Doping Regulations (hereinafter ADR) that apply in the proceedings in question and inform that the player appears to have violated Article 6 of the Fifa Anti-Doping Regulations and has the right to request a copy of the laboratory documentation package.

“In accordance with Article 61 par.1 of the ADR, the player may request the analysis of the ‘B’ sample within 48 hours of receipt of this notification.

“All related laboratory costs of this analysis would have to be borne by player, unless the ‘B’ sample fails to confirm the ‘A’ sample. The player and/or a representative may be present at the opening of the ‘B’ sample.

“If the players does not request the analysis of the ‘B’ sample within the mentioned deadline, we will deem that the player waived his right and the results of the analysis of the ‘A’ sample will be deemed confirmed.

However, Fifa may still request the analysis of the ‘B’ sample.
“We ask the Zimbabwe Football association to immediately forward this information to the player, Chafa Devon Taitamba, and to ensure that the method of communication may be traced (fax confirmation, registered mail, signature of player as confirmation of receipt etc) and to provide Fifa immediately with the proof of receipt.”