Probe into doping at Asian Cup begins<\/p>\n
KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Asian football supremo Peter Velappan said
\nyesterday an investigation was underway into the results of
\ndoping tests on players of four top teams at the Asian Cup in
\nDecember.<\/p>\n
\"It is premature to conclude that any player or team is
\naffected until the report is completed,\" Velappan, general
\nsecretary of the Kuala Lumpur-based Asian Football Confederation,
\ntold AFP.<\/p>\n
He said we \"cannot make any comment\" on rumors that three
\nplayers from one national team tested positive for doping after
\nthe Asian Cup, held in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in
\nDecember.<\/p>\n
Saudi Arabia beat the UAE 4-2 on penalty kicks to win the
\ntitle. Velappan said doping tests were conducted in the
\nsemifinals and final.<\/p>\n
Apart from Saudi Arabia and the UAE, players from the two
\nteams that secured third and fourth place -- Iran and Kuwait --
\nwere also tested.<\/p>\n
Stern action would be taken against players using banned
\ndrugs, he said, adding that doping among Asian players was not a
\nserious problem.<\/p>\n
The Thailand national team captain tested positive for drugs
\nat the 1994 Asian Games in Hiroshima, Japan. But there have been
\nfew other cases.<\/p>\n
\"It is a normal practice to suspend players for two years if
\nthey are tested positive for using banned drugs,\" he said.<\/p>\n
In the group B match Monday of the Dunhill Cup, Indonesia,
\ncheered by an enthusiastic contingent of its supporters working
\nin Malaysia, beat Vietnam 1-0.<\/p>\n
The victory strengthened its chances of a place in the
\nsemifinals. Indonesia had Saturday held Zimbabwe to a scoreless
\ndraw.<\/p>\n
Widodo Cahya Putro sent his countrymen among the 10,000 crowd
\ninto delirium as early as the third minute, when he stabbed in a
\ncross from the right.<\/p>\n
Defeat for Vietnam meant certain elimination, as it had lost
\n4-0 Saturday to Bosnia.<\/p>\n
The semifinals are to be played Feb. 28 and the finals, March
\n2.<\/p>\n
In a another group B match of the soccer tournament, Zimbabwe,
\ndown to only 10 men in the 39th minute, scrambled to a 2-2 draw
\nagainst Bosnia Herzegovina.<\/p>\n
Needing a win to make certain of a berth in the semifinals,
\nZimbabwe was on course as early as the 24th minute when Masimba
\nDinyero booted home off a corner kick.<\/p>\n
However, its fortunes changed when Ronald Sibanda was ordered
\noff by the referee in the 39th minute for his second yellow card
\nin the same match.<\/p>\n
Sibanda, who was hauled up for dangerous play, compounded
\nmatters by gesticulating at the referee, who then sacked him.<\/p>\n
Bosnia exploited the advantage of having one man more by
\npouring into the attack after halftime. The Bosnians were
\nrewarded with the equalizer in the 58th minute when Hrnjic Asim
\nturned the ball in off a corner kick.<\/p>\n
Thereafter, a rampant Bosnia had Zimbabwe reeling from attacks
\ndown the right flank, and deservedly went into the lead through
\nMuharemovic Dzelaludin.<\/p>\n
But sloppy work in defense saw the lead canceled in the 75th
\nminute when substitute Ian Gorowa drew Zimbabwe level with a
\nrasping drive from just inside the penalty box.<\/p>\n
Zimbabwe will have to beat Vietnam on Feb. 26 to make certain
\nof a semifinal berth.<\/p>\n
Bosnia, with a 4-0 win Saturday over Vietnam, are almost
\nthrough to the semifinals. They play Indonesia, also on Feb. 26.<\/p>",
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