Boxing champion Catherine Phiri has conversed an apology message to the nation following her two years suspension from all boxing and other sports activities after she tested positive for furosemide, a prohibited substance.
In a letter addressed to the nation and her fans, Ms Phiri stated that she has never used any performance enhancing drugs in her boxing career, as she has been subjected to numerous drug tests.
Ms Phiri explained that she took the furosemide drug to help lose weight and had no knowledge that it was prohibited.
“During my preparation for my world title fight, I took the drug to help lose weight quickly not knowing that the drug was on the prohibited list, I did this without the knowledge of my coach and manager, I deeply regret my actions,” Ms Phiri noted
And at a media briefing, the Zambia Professional Boxing and Wrestling Control Board and National Olympic Committee of Zambia mentioned that Ms Phiri voluntarily accepted to be slapped with a two-year suspension from professional boxing or any sporting competition after her samples were found with the prohibited drug.
The Zambia Professional Boxing and Wrestling Control Board Chairman Colonel Wamunyima Chingumbe disclosed on 26th February, this year, that anti-doping tests were conducted by Africa Zone VI Regional Organisation (RADO) at a time Ms Phiri and Zimbabwe’s Kudakwashe Chiwandire were about to fight.
Dr Chingumbe stated that Ms Phiri was charged with the commission of an anti-doping rule violation under article 2.1 and article 2.2 of the anti-doping rules, on the basis that Furosemide, which is prohibited, was found to be present in her sample.
And the National Olympic Committee of Zambia (NOCZ) Secretary General Boniface Kambikambi whose committee is the current de facto RADO disclosed that a long list of updated prohibited substances in sport have been updated and will come into effect next year.
Mr Kambikambi cautioned athletes in the country to be wary of what they consume adding that there is also a named painkiller which will be added to the list and will be shared with local sports associations.
And Catherine Phiri’s Manager Christopher Malunga has appealed to her fans not to lose faith in the boxer.
Brief facts of the matter are that, Boxer Catherine Phiri has been banned from all sports activities for two years after failing a doping test as Zambia’s sporting reputation continues to be brought into disrepute 24 hours after a Nkana coach and player have been suspended for attacking a referee by FAZ.
The Zambia Professional Boxing and Wrestling Control Board (ZPBWCB) confirmed Catherine’s ban at a media briefing on Thursday in Lusaka.
Catherine Phiri failed her test from a sample taken from her WBC interim Super Bantamweight title fight against Kundakwashe Chiwandire of Zimbabwe on February 26, 2022 in Lusaka, Chiwandire won the fight via a split decision.
Catherine Phiri’s sample contained Furosemide which appears on WADA’s list of banned substances.
But the Zambia Professional Boxing and Wrestling Control Board stated that Furosemide was not a performance-enhancing drug but was used to manage body swelling associated with heart failure, and liver and renal disease.
Catherine Phiri’s ban from all sports activities was effective on May 10, 2022, when the provisional ban came into effect.
The news came just 24 hours after Nkana goalkeeper coach Mike Poto and striker Diamond Chikwekwe were banned for six months and four games respectively.
This is for their role in Saturday’s post-match assault on referee Audrick Nkole at the end of Nkana’s 1-1 away draw against Nchanga Rangers at Nchanga Stadium in Chingola, Nkana has also been fined K100, 000 for the assault by officials and players on Nkole.
We in pf believe her. Where is the upnd government to support and fight for our own? The upnd are very unpatriotic. We in pf would have s paid the best lawyers to appeal this decision.
2 Years not enough
Zambia has a big drug problem which is never brought up.
And to this PF tr00l
I say fuseke
Sorry you feel that way. You have a lot of anger built up in you. It is understandable to feel the way you do when we have an incompetent party in power in zambia. Attend one of our party functions if you are based in uk and let us connect. Thanks
Anger no no no
Disillusioned YES 57 years of failed Governments
Both mismanagement and looting, now we have someone trying to repair the past ills
and all you do is condemn !
ZAMBIA is on the right track and by 2026 the results will reflect that
Bear in mind government still has a large percentage of pf cronies, trying to frustrate
the goals, they will be weeded out in time to come
After one PF joker dropped out of these bloggs, another one has come up, and from the UK this time. Wonders will ever end. During PF time, a rickety shelter called a toll gate between Kitwe and Ndola cost the Zambian tax payers 80 million kwacha, something which is not even worth 5 million kwacha. Any way that’s PF for you, even with a branch in the UK, I think the Arresting corps commission(ACC) should move in, remember for now it is just arrests with no convictions
KZ…ulipo Lipo? Ati bwanji ni weekend ka?
“Brief facts of the matter are that, Boxer Catherine Phiri has been banned from all sports activities for two years after failing a doping test as Zambia’s sporting reputation continues to be brought into disrepute 24 hours after a Nkana coach and player have been suspended for attacking a referee by FAZ.” ILLOGICAL WRITING GO BACK TO SCHOOL Not same magnitudes to me
Does Furosemide enhance one’s physical effort or endurance?
has conversed an apology message to the nation ?????? These reporters shouldnt be in this business
That’s the end of her career. She will never be the same after 2 years of non competitive boxing.
Yeah Just see what happened to Mariah Sharapova she couldnt win anything after her two year ban. Diego Maradona couldnt shine like before after his ban. Only Muhammad Ali returned to be victorious after a four year ban
Catherine Phiri, get a lawyer and appeal the sentence. Furosemide is not a performance enhancing drug. In fact, it may be the reason why you were beaten. It makes a person lose water AND salt. It may be a banned drug but 2 years is an excessive punishment. 6 months, yes.
I agree with Dr Ngoma. The sentence is too long and this is in no way a performance booster. Boxers like using it when theyare overweight at the weigh in and are asked to come back later within the limit. It only makes the kidneys lose liquids.
You surely have donkeys for regulators