Onana doping ban reduced to leave Arsenal facing crucial transfer decision

Ajax goalkeeper Andre Onana has had his doping ban reduced to nine months, meaning he will be able to play again from November 4.

Arsenal have been strongly linked with the Cameroon international, and could now decide to land him this summer after his ban was reduced by three months.

Onana, 25, tested positive for Furosemide and was banned for a year in February of this year, though Ajax appealed the decision, contesting that he accidentally took his wife's medication.

On Thursday, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) reduced the period as there was no "significant fault" as he had taken the medication by accident.

A statement from Ajax read: "The international Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has made a ruling appeal in the case of Andre Onana versus the UEFA. The goalkeeper was previously suspended for twelve months by the European football association because of a violation of the doping rules. The CAS has now determined in appeal that the suspension will be reduced to nine months.

"The suspension shall now end 4 November 2021 and up to that time, it covers all football activities, both national as international. The goalkeeper is allowed to restart his training two months before the end of the suspension which will be on 4 September 2021. Onana has a contract with Ajax that runs until 30 June 2022.

"During a four-hour online session on 2 June Wednesday morning Onana told his side of the story to three arbitrators of the CAS and was assisted by his lawyers and Ajax. In this session the CAS was asked not to impose a penalty or a considerably shorter penalty than the twelve months that was previously imposed by the UEFA.

The position of the UEFA was unchanged. The European football association wanted the CAS to stick to the twelve months suspension."

Ajax chief executive and legendary goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar added: "With this ruling of the CAS we have won three months in comparison to the initial suspension. So it was worth it taking this case to the CAS. We stand for a clean sport. By I will say again that we are convinced that Andre has taken this substance by accident and certainly not to perform better.

"This is endorsed by all parties, also by the UEFA as is to be concluded from the cases both by the UEFA and the CAS.

"When we told our story, together with Andre and the lawyers tom the CAS, I drove off from The Ajax Academy with a good feeling. I have mixed feelings about today’s verdict because our aim was that he would be back playing games this summer."

According to Dutch outlet NOS, Onana is expected to cost around £7.75million, having had his ban shortened.

The stopper is under contract until the summer of 2022, and it seems unlikely he'll sign an extension, meaning he would be even cheaper to sign in January.