Former Malta international Apap fails doping test, handed three-month ban

Former Malta international defender Ferdinando Apap was handed a three-month ban after failing a doping test during an FA Trophy match at the start of the year.

A report on Newsbook said that Apap tested positive after the FA Trophy match between Victoria Hotspurs and Ħamrun Spartans, which was played at the Tedesco Stadium on January 3.

Results have shown traces of cocaine in his system, and the player was immediately suspended.

The report said that Apap initially rebutted the claim but later provided enough evidence to substantiate his defence that the drug was consumed in a social environment.

The player told the authorities that the drug was not consumed to enhance his performance during this game, but he had used the substance out of competition.

In such cases, a mandatory three-month suspension is imposed on the athlete. If he agrees to attend the rehabilitation programme, the Substance of Abuse Treatment programme with Sedqa, the ban would be lowered to one month.

Apap’s suspension started last weekend when he sat out of Victoria Hotspurs clash against Attard in the Amateur League One on Sunday.

The Gozitan defender, who was represented by lawyer Dr Robert Dingli, is the fourth football player to fail a doping test this year and followed a similar path.

Former Żebbuġ Rangers goalkeeper Jamie Azzopardi failed a doping test for the same substance and has now served his one-month suspension and is now on the books of Naxxar Lions.

Tarxien Rainbows defender Rafael Tavares and goalkeeper Pablo Sanchez, who at the time was on the books of Marsaxlokk,

Tarxien Rainbows defender Rafael Rodrigues Azevedo Tavares and Marsaxlokk’s second-in-line goalkeeper Pablo Guillermo Sanchez Nino were both temporarily suspended after they tested positive at the end of the Jubilee Cup quarter-final between the sides on November 30.

Sanchez tested positive for cannabis and was banned for three months. However, the Spanish goalkeeper agreed to follow a rehabilitation programme, and his ban was reduced to one month and expired on January 19.