public function isBanned($channel, $hostmask)
    {
        if (!$this->_channelsyncing) {
            $this->log(SMARTIRC_DEBUG_NOTICE, 'WARNING: isBanned() is called '
                .'and the required Channel Syncing is not activated!',
                __FILE__, __LINE__
            );
            return false;
        }

        return ($this->isJoined($channel)
                && array_search($hostmask, $this->getChannel($channel)->bans
            ) !== false
        );
    }