By Andrew Warshaw
January 14 – The Asian Cup has burst into controversy after Jordan lodged a formal protest with organisers claiming a random dope test that went badly wrong resulted in one their players falling seriously ill.
Experienced striker Ahmad Hayel could be forced to miss Friday’s crucial fixture against Palestine after he was made to drink several litres of untreated water when unable to provide a urine sample following Monday’s 1-0 defeat by Iraq.
Jordanian officials say it caused him to fall seriously ill, resulting in the test being cancelled and prompting a protest to the Asian Football Confederation about the “unhealthy procedure taken in doping test for Ahmad Hayel”.
Jordanian football is run by FIFA presidential candidate Prince Ali bin al-Hussein, making the affair even more awkward for the AFC and Asian Cup organisers.
Jordanian FA general secretary Fadi Zureikat explained: “The emergency facilities were not sufficient and the temperature in the testing room was very low. The player was made to drink lots of water and began vomiting.
“We had to take him back to the team base in a wheelchair, using our own private car, not an emergency vehicle. Subsequently we had to stay with the player until the early hours of the morning.”
Team doctor Adel Skirji told the Jordanian FA’s website: “Ahmad Hayel was unable to give a sample, which is normal as he had lost a lot of fluid during the game and needed more time to rehydrate. When (testing officials) tried to making him drink lots of water it quickly reduced his temperature and he began to throw up and feel dizzy.”
Hayel apparently arrived back at the team hotel “suffering from semi coma, general weakness, and hypothermia” and Jordan’s English coach Ray Wilkins, the former Chelsea and international midfielder, was reported to be furious at the incident.
Citing evidence from their medical officer who accompanied Hayel, the JFA said the player was only given water to drink “without salts or electrolytes” in the four hours he spent waiting to give a sample. There was no immediate reaction from organisers.
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