Kiefer Ravena clears he’s not doing illegal drugs: ‘I don’t take shabu, marijuana, cocaine’

Kiefer Ravena clarifies he’s not doing illegal drugs during a press conference. Ravena tested positive for prohibited substances under the World Anti-Doping Agency List. Photo by Mark Giongco/INQUIRER.net

Kiefer Ravena cleared his 18-month suspension from Fiba wasn’t about use of illegal drugs but rather, due to banned substances.

Ravena tested positive for three ingredients Dimethylbutylamine, Methylexaneamine and Higenamine that are part of the prohibited substances list of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

READ: Ravena tests positive for banned substances, gets 18-month suspension from Fiba

“Ayokong isipin ng tao na nagsha-shabu ako, nagma-marijuana or nagco-cocaine ako (I don’t want the people to think that I’m taking shabu, marijuana or cocaine). That’s something way out of hand,” Ravena told reporters during a press conference set by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas.

In the press conference, the SBP also announced that Fiba, the world governing body for basketball, has suspended Ravena for 18 months after he failed the random drug test during Gilas Pilipinas’ home game against Japan on Feb. 25.

The NLEX guard said the banned substances came from a pre-workout supplement called Dust Extreme which he had taken and had no idea to have such composition.

The 24-year-old Ravena was apologetic and he took responsibility for his actions.

“You are responsible for whatever you take into your system, into your body so why would I blame anybody for influencing me? It’s a pre-workout drink and I didn’t know the components of the said drink.”