Test procedures accurate — Eala

Although there had been theories raised during the Senate and Congress hearings that substances contained in food supplements and dietary pills may have triggered some of the positive results on a number of PBA players, league commissioner Noli Eala maintained the intricate testings done at the PNP Crime Laboratory all but ruled out the probability.

In other words, the league’s drug-testing campaign stood the test.

This developed even as Ginebra’s Jun Limpot and six other players suspended indefinitely for having positive results in the PBA drug tests appealed yesterday their respective cases and sought a re-test in their bid to be reinstated in the league.

Eala said he would make some clarifications before scheduling the re-tests.

"Ryan Bernardo and Davonn Harp have agreed on a re-test using the same specimen but the others (Limpot, Angelo David, Dorian Pena, Noli Locsin and Alex Crisano) hindi malinaw ang appeal. We’ll seek clarification first whether they’re willing to accept the conditions under our present guidelines. Kapag malinaw na, we’ll inform the Department of Health which is the one to schedule the re-test," he said.

During the hearing, Eala pointed out that substances only trigger false-positive results in the initial screenings, but these results are eventually nullified in the confirmatory tests done at the PNP Crime Lab whose drug-testing machines are ‘drug specific.’

On the questions on whether ‘human error’ may have altered some of the results, Eala said: "Yes, there could be a possibility of human error, but the possibility is different from reality. We are confident about the soundness and fairness of our procedure."

Eala also said no less than Department of Health Undersecretary Antonio Lopez testified during the hearings that drugs or food supplements with methampethamine are not sold over the counter.

Still, Eala expressed his gratitude to both the Senate and the House of Representatives for giving the league the opportunity to defend itself over the spate of controversies that resulted from its all-out campaign against illegal drugs.

He said the initial inquiries conducted on Thursday by both houses of Congress served to enlighten the public on misconceptions regarding the league’s drug-testing program, bolstering the confidence on the fairness and soundness of the procedure,

"We’re thankful that it gave us the opportunity to expound on our drug-testing procedure," said Eala. "The league stands confident that all misconceptions about our anti-drug program have been answered in the hearings."

In another forum, International Basketball Federation (FIBA) medical council member Dr. Jose Raul Canlas stressed that an athlete tested positive for illegal drugs in international competition is given the chance to clear his or her name.

"In the FIBA, we recognize that a positive test is far different from a drug offense because there’s a lot of things that could give positive result in a drug test," said Canlas, the lone Asian member of the council.

"Whether in any regional competition or in the world championship, we give the athletes a lot of leeway. Athletes who test positive are given a chance to clear his name," Canlas added.