Justin Brownlee fails Asiad drugs test —officials

LAUSANNE — Justin Brownlee, who played a starring role to help the Philippines win their first Asian Games basketball gold since 1962, has failed a doping test, officials said Thursday.

The American-born Brownlee tested positive for the banned Carboxy-THC, the Lausanne-based International Testing Agency (ITA) said. Carboxy-THC is linked to cannabis use.

"The sample was collected by the ITA at the Asian Games Hangzhou 2022 during an in-competition anti-doping control performed on 7 October 2023," the ITA said.

"The athlete has been informed of the case. He has the right to request the analysis of the B-samples."

Separately, the ITA said that Jordan's basketball player Sami Bzai had tested positive for a banned steroid.

He also has the right to request the analysis of the B-samples.

It takes the total number of known doping cases at the Games to 10.

The Philippines beat Jordan 70-60 in the men's basketball final on October 6 with Brownlee pouring in 20 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. The Games ended on Sunday.

After 61 years, the Philippines took home the gold medal in men's basketball from the Asian Games.

The last time the national team won a gold medal in the Asian Games was in 1962, when it defeated China to cop its fourth straight crown in the continental tournament.

It was also the first time that the Philippines reached the gold medal match since winning the silver medal in 1990, and the country's first semifinal appearance since its fourth place finish in the 2002 edition in Busan, South Korea. 

Before Gilas defeated Jordan in the gold-medal match, Brownlee led the Philippine national basketball team over powerhouse China in their semifinal game, 77-76.

Brownlee also played a key role when Gilas beat Iran, 84-83. He erupted for 36 points, 16 of which he dropped in the first quarter, to go with eight rebounds and four assists.

Gilas Pilipinas suffered a fourth quarter collapse but ultimately emerged victorious as it escaped Iran, 84-83, to return to the semifinals of the Asian Games for the first time since 2002 on Tuesday in Hangzhou, China.

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. signed the law granting Brownlee Filipino citizenship in January 2023. 

Brownlee took his oath of allegiance to the country on January 16.

Before suiting up for Gilas Pilipinas, he played as an import in the Philippine Basketball Association for the crowd-favorite Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings, with whom he won several championships.  —Agence France-Presse with reports from GMA Integrated News