Soccer body vows action on drugs

Soccer body vows action on drugs

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Asian soccer supremo Peter Velappan warned
yesterday that stiff penalties would be imposed on players who
failed drug tests at the 19th SEA Games in Jakarta in October.

"The Asian Football Confederation wants the football
competition to be drugs free," Velappan, the AFC general
secretary.

He said the AFC would pressure national associations to ensure
the objective of a drugs free tournament was met.

"It must be mentioned that national associations will not be
spared the penalties either if any of their players are caught
for drug abuse," Velappan said.

Asian soccer has seen a number of players caught for drug
abuse since the start of the year. The last case involved two
Iranians who tested positive during the Asian Club Championship
finals here in March.

They were suspended for 12 months each by the AFC and their
club fined US$3,000 for negligence.

At the 1994 Asian Games a Thai player also failed a drug test
and was banned for a year and the Thai FA fined $3,000.

"There is a tendency amongst national associations to treat
this problem lightly. Indifference can have serious consequences
as we now see. Despite many reminders and calls for vigilance,
the number of cases of players being caught from drug abuse has
increased," Velappan said.

"The AFC will be conducting dope tests during the tournament
and would ensure that the procedures are fully complied with,"
Velappan said.

Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, Brunei, Vietnam, Singapore,
Vietnam, Malaysia, Laos, Indonesia and the Philippines are in the
men's competition from Oct. 6 to Oct. 18.

Thailand, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Myanmar,
Singapore and Indonesia are in the Games women's tournament from
Oct. 7 to Oct. 17.