GAB chief on Kiefer Ravena: We’ll follow due process

MANILA, Philippines — The Games and Amusement Board (GAB), which regulates all professional sports and professional athletes in the country, is not jumping the gun on Kiefer Ravena.

“There has to be due process,” GAB chairman Abraham Mitra told The STAR yesterday after news broke out that the 24-year-old Ravena had failed a doping test conducted by FIBA.

Based on early reports, Ravena tested positive for three banned substances during the Gilas Pilipinas campaign in the FIBA Asia Qualifiers. The testing was conducted after the Gilas game against Japan at the Mall of Asia Arena last Feb. 25.

A second sample also yielded positive results, and FIBA came out with the decision to suspend Ravena last May 22, forcing the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas to pull the highly-popular cager out of the PBA All-Star in Iloilo last Sunday.

Mitra said Ravena may face other sanctions from GAB.

“But not necessarily a revocation of his license. We have to study the situation as we await copies of the test and its results,” said Mitra.

The GAB chairman said the government agency conducts its own tests on professional athletes, including PBA players who are required to renew their GAB license each year.

Mitra said he will try to find out why Ravena had cleared the tests conducted by GAB but failed the ones conducted by FIBA.

“Bakit sa amin lumusot? (Why did he pass ours?). We do our own tests each year on athletes, and once every three years for coaches, trainers and officials,” said Mitra.

The sports agency is strictest on boxers and basketball players.

Mitra said he will try to secure from FIBA its updated list of banned substances because the world body in basketball may have banned substances that are not in the GAB list.

“We will look into that,” said Mitra, adding that he will also have to confer with PBA commissioner Willie Marcial on the matter.

“We can suspend him (Ravena) while we study the case or we study the case before the suspension comes. But only if needed,” he said.           

On the part of GAB, Mitra said the revocation of Ravena’s license will not be the first step.

“We will observe due process,” he added.