Kaizer Chiefs striker Shaun Bartlett has called on professional soccer players who are asthmatic to get the required exemption certificate in case they are found guilty of using banned substances.

One of the ingredients found in the asthmatic spray is listed as a banned substance. If a player doesn’t get an exemption certificate, he risks being banned from the sport if he is tested.

The Amakhosi striker, himself an asthmatic, was speaking after the recent doping scandal that has hit the Premier Soccer League (PSL).

Two professional players, Masixole May of Benoni Premier United and Mamelodi Sundowns defender Mbulelo Mabizela, tested positive for dagga.

Bartlett particularly appealed to players at smaller clubs to get tested as soon as possible.

He said asthma sufferers could then be distinguished from those who used substances to enhance their performance.

“It is important that club officials educate their players about banned substances.

“And in cases where players use medication for health reasons, clubs should send them for examinations to get the required exemption certificate,” said Bartlett.

“I want to encourage players who suffer from asthma to have tests done by a specialist and inform the league of their condition.

“They will then have everything on paper to prove their condition.”

Bartlett discovered his asthma problem when he went for medical tests with Bafana Bafana in 1994.

The Cape Town-born striker said he had gone for tests again before the season started to get his two-year valid therapeutic use certificate.

He said he used his asthma pump twice a day and the Amakhosi team doctor carried his certificate to every official match.

This means that even if Bartlett gets tested and the results are positive, he will present the document to justify the presence of Salbutamol in his system. This is a banned substance used in asthma medication.

Within Fifa statutes, Salbutamol is allowed, but only if a player presents his certificate.

Two years ago, Dynamos failed to inform the league about their player, Josam Ndou, who was also an asthma sufferer.

Ndou was banned for nine months, a move that subsequently saw his promising career crumble.

Another asthma sufferer, Bidvest Wits goalkeeper Moeneeb Josephs, was also banned after testing positive last year.

The ban came about because his former club, Ajax Cape Town, failed to renew the player’s exemption certificate.

Josephs was banned from football activities for six months.

But after a successful appeal, the ban was turned into a suspended sentence.

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