Borussia Dortmund Transfer Target André Onana Tests Positive for PEDs

AFC Ajax goalkeeper and potential Borussia Dortmund transfer target André Onana has been handed a 12-month ban from club and international football following positive test result for Furosemide, a drug banned from use for athletes by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Onana tested positive in October 2020, and following an investigation was handed his punishment today. Onana and Ajax are appealing the decision in the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

According to Onana, he took the medication by accident. He claims that he mistook a tablet of his girlfriend’s medication, confusing it for aspirin. Whether this is true or not, it will likely not impact UEFA’s decision, as players have a responsibility to keep certain substances out of their body. Furosemide is a drug intended to help pregnant women lose water weight, but can be used by athletes to flush their own bodies of other performance-enhancing substances.

Before this development was announced, Onana was considered a leading candidate to replace Roman Bürki as Borussia Dortmund’s top goalkeeper. This announcement will almost certainly void any possibility of that, especially for the upcoming summer transfer window. BVB will have to look at other targets, and a prime target appears to be Peter Gulasci of RB Leipzig. For now, Borussia Dortmund will continue to work with the Swiss tandem of Marwin Hitz and Roman Bürki.