Surprise at the moment and the reason. 9 days before the match against the Argentine national team in the debut of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Saudi Arabia announced this Sunday a change to his squad as a “precautionary measure” before the CEO possible violation of the anti-doping rules.
This was announced by the United Football Association (SAFF), which did not provide many more details on the farewell of the striker Fahad Al-Muwallad, who was the main alternative to the French coach Hervé Renard as number ‘9’ and had already at shoulders world experiences Cup of Russia 2018.
In a statement, the Saudi federation explained that it was a “precautionary measure”, but that Renard “has decided to exclude the player from the list to participate in the World Cup”. Instead, the “Green Hawks” called up Nawaf Al Abed.
The situation is more than striking whereas Al-Muwallad had been suspended for 18 months since the end of March due to a positive control for furosemide, a diuretic that hides the presence of anabolic steroids, and which appears on the list of prohibited products by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
That penalty had recently been reduced by a Saudi arbitration body, which would have allowed him to play in the World Cup, according to local media.
However, to explain this decision, the Saudi Federation invoked “the development of an appeal by WADA before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS)”. He also specified that he had consulted with his legal services.
Al-Muwallad, 28 years old and a recent signing from the Al-Shabab team -he had a decent period at Levante in Spain-, ran to fight for ownership in Saudi Arabia’s starting eleven for the debut against Argentina, next Tuesday November 22nd at the Lusail Stadium in Doha.
In the last two friendlies, Al-Muwallad started with a win against Iceland (1-0) and did not enter the draw against Panama (1-1).
The definitive list of Saudi Arabia
archers: Mohammed Al-Owais (Al-Hilal), Nawaf Al-Aqidi (Al-Nassr), Mohammed Al Rubaie Al-Yami (Al-Ahli)
defenders: Yasser Al-Shahrani (Al-Hilal), Hassan Tambakti (Al-Shabab), Abdulelah Al-Amri (Al-Nassr), Abdullah Mado (Al-Nassr), Ali Al-Bulaihi (Al-Hilal), Saud Abdulhamid ( Al-Hilal), Sultan Al-Ghanam (Al-Nassr), Mohammed Al-Breik (Al-Hilal).
midfielders: Salman Al-Faraj (Al-Hilal), Riyadh Sharahili (Abha), Ali Al-Hassan (Al-Nassr), Mohamed Kanno (Al-Hilal), Abdulelah Al-Malki (Al-Hilal), Sami Al-Najei ( Al-Nassr), Abdullah Otayf (Al-Hilal), Nasser Al-Dawsari (Al-Hilal), Abdulrahman Al-Aboud (Al-Ittihad), Salem Al-Dawsari (Al-Hilal), Hattan Bahebri (Al-Shabab) .
strikers: Nawaf Al-Abed (Al-Shabab), Haitham Asiri (Al-Ahli), Saleh Al-Shehri (Al-Hilal), Firas Al-Buraikan (Al-Fateh)
Source: Clarin
