Sports
FIFA Suspends Moroccan Over Drugs
FIFA has provisionally suspended a Morocco international following a failed drugs test.
The world governing body made the announcement on Wednesday via a statement on their official website, although the identity of the player in question has not been revealed.
The sanction relates to a test that took place after Morocco’s 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Tanzania on June 8, which Rachid Taoussi’s side won 2-1, with a doping test revealing evidence of a prohibited substance.
The statement from FIFA read: “The chairman of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee has provisionally suspended a Moroccan international footballer for an initial period of 30 days and opened disciplinary proceedings following an adverse analytical finding in relation to a doping control conducted after the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier played in Marrakech, Morocco on 8 June 2013.
“After receiving the ‘A’ sample result, the player requested an analysis of the ‘B’ sample, which also tested positive for a prohibited substance included in WADA’s 2013 prohibited list.
“The decision taken by the chairman of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee was duly notified to the Moroccan Football Association on 28 August.
“The player has until September 4 to inform FIFA of whether he wishes to request a hearing. Irrespective of whether or not the player requests a hearing, the player and/or the Moroccan Football Association have until September 11 to submit a statement and all related and supporting documentary evidence.”
The news is the latest in a series of doping issues to hit the international game, with a Tahitian international suspended following a positive test at the FIFA Confederations Cup in June, while a Jamaican international and a team official were also suspended following a test after the World Cup qualifier against Honduras on June 11.
Morocco’s World Cup hopes were ended at the qualification stage, as Taoussi’s side finished second behind Ivory Coast in Group C of the CAF region.
The championship will run from today to October 12 at the International Conference Centre, Umuahia. On the ground for the championship are athletes from Brazil, Peru, Egypt, Cameroon, Tunisia, Nigeria, Mauritius and Rwanda. They arrived on Sunday.
Some of the other countries were expected in the Abia State capital yesterday. Speaking on the championship, yesterday, Abia State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Nwobilor Ananaba, said the chief host, Governor Alex Otti, has mobilised facilities and the personnel to ensure a successful event.
Speaking through the Special Assistant to the Governor on Sports, Raymond Chima Ukwa, said: “We have the best mats, playing mats, especially the wheelchair playing mats, which is the first of its kind in West Africa.
“If you go around, you’ll see the hall and the preparation that has been made to ensure that people have an equitable world-class playing field.” Thrilled by Governor Otti’s support for the competition, Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN) President, Francis Orbih, said that, besides making all the necessary arrangements that will ensure a successful hosting of the events, “we will have a Para-Badminton workshop for coaches and players.
“Nigeria is doing well, Abia is doing well, and we want to do better to improve on where we are, which is why all these have been put together by Governor Otti.”
Nigeria’s Flying Eagles began their campaign at the 24th FIFA U20 World Cup with a narrow 1–0 loss to Norway on Monday, despite creating several opportunities to level the game.
Norway took the lead in the 9th minute after being awarded a controversial penalty. The Flying Eagles pressed for an equaliser but were denied two penalty claims in the second half.
Kparobo Arierhi came close in the 47th minute when his shot drifted wide with the goalkeeper beaten, while Tahir Maigana struck the upright in the 63rd minute.
Nasiru Salihu’s rising effort in the 71st minute also went narrowly over the bar, drawing gasps from the crowd.
Seven minutes from time, Maigana again tested Norway with a long-range strike that went just wide as Nigeria continued to pile on the pressure.
Despite their dominance, the Flying Eagles could not find the breakthrough and now turn their attention to Thursday’s clash against Saudi Arabia in their second group match.
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