Harp to submit self to follicle test

While awaiting the schedule of the retest of his urine sample by the Department of Health, Davonn Harp is making a personal move, submitting himself to a hair follicle test Monday.

If there are other available tests, Harp said he’s also willing to take them.

That’s how determined the Red Bull stalwart is in clearing his name and reputation after being named among those who tested positive for illegal substance in the PBA drug-testing program.

"I’m willing to be tested even three times a day because a man’s word is not enough in this situation," said Harp in an exclusive interview with The STAR.

He maintained he had never ever taken illegal drugs and suspected he flunked the drug test because of an error in the test, contaminated bottle or inadvertent medication. He said he doesn’t even smoke.

Harp appealed his case with the PBA Commissioner’s Office Friday and he’s now looking forward to a retest, which he hopes should turn out clean this time.

The 6-foot-7 Fil-Am behemoth agreed to test the same specimen, which yielded positive result in the initial test.

"There’s nothing I can do at this time. I’ll just undergo the hair test and hopefully, the commissioner considers the hair test result," said Harp. "I had a talk with the commissioner and he said he’ll take that into consideration."

He said he’ll give hair sample at St. Luke’s Hospital Monday. The sample will then be brought to the United States for testing, which experts say is more accurate than the one being used in the PBA drug-testing program.

"I’m 100 percent sure I’m clean that’s why I’m not worried with the test," Harp said.

"Three days before the test for the team was undertaken, they (PBA officials) announced they would come in practice for the test. Only an idiot would take drugs knowing you’ll be tested," said Harp.

Harp felt bad not only for himself but also for his team with "all the hard work we’ve done in the last six months may go to waste."

He was helpless as he could only watch on TV at home how Red Bull faded out against Talk N Text Wednesday. The team is now on the brink of disaster in the Samsung PBA All-Filipino Cup which it utterly dominated early on.

"I felt bad for my teammates I couldn’t help them. I felt sorry the team had been in first place and had a good chance to win the championship and now it’s like this," he said.

He finds consolation in the fact that his two kids are still young, they would not suffer the agony of being teased in school or wherever that their father is a drug user. His eldest is only one year and four months old and the second only seven months.

Like the other alleged drug offenders, Harp felt he’s not given due process and condemned, with the league commissioner making the announcement on TV even before the players concerned were informed of the problem.

"The way it was announced, it’s uncalled for. I only got the information that I tested positive when the commissioner appeared on TV," said Harp.

Harp also belied what the officials said on the process of collecting the urine sample of the players during the hearings at the Senate and House of Representatives Thursday.

Red Bull team manager Tony Chua also questioned the process although he stressed he’s fully supporting the PBA’s drive to stop the drug menace from entering the league.

"Hindi kami gagastos ng milyon-milyon para lang mag-alaga ng addict," he said.