JEDDAH: Al-Ittihad and Saudi national team standout Fahad Al-Mowallad faces a one-year ban from local and international competitions after testing positive for a performance-enhancing drug.
Al-Ittihad received a notice three days ago from the Saudi Doping Commission that the test on its prize striker returned positive for phenethylamine, a banned substance.
The commission conducted the test on April 27 after the Saudi Professional League match against Al-Nassr, which Al-Ittihad won 3-2.
Prior to last month’s test, Al-Mowallad underwent five drug tests this season, which he passed. A decision will be handed down after a hearing on Thursday.
Reports said Al-Mowallad’s massage therapist gave him the drug to relieve muscle pain. It is not clear whether the therapist was under the employ of Al-Ittihad.
Another player, Faisal Masrahi, a goalkeeper for Qadisia, was handed a one-year ban by the Saudi Football Federation for a similar offense. He was tested on Feb. 19 after a league match.
Two samples were taken to the World Anti-Doping Agency-accredited laboratory in Lausanne, Switzerland. One of the samples returned positive for a banned substance, which Masrahi did not contest.
Meanwhile, the Saudi Professional League concludes on Thursday with Nassr set to win the championship crown with a match against Al-Batin. Nassr sits on top of the league table on 67 points with Al-Hilal, which plays Al-Shabab on the same day, trailing by one point on 66.
Shabab is a distant third on 54 points. Batin, which has been relegated to the second tier of the Saudi football league, is on 25 points.
Al-Ittihad star Al-Mowallad faces ban for doping
Al-Ittihad star Al-Mowallad faces ban for doping
- The Saudi Doping Commission conducted the test on April 27 after the match against Al-Nassr, which Al-Ittihad won 3-2
- Last February, Qadiai goalkeeper Faisal Masrahi was handed a one-year ban by the Saudi Football Federation for a similar offense
Dubai Basketball produce dramatic comeback win over Real Madrid
- The 93-85 victory at Coca-Cola Arena secured back-to-back EuroLeague home wins in the span of 48 hours
DUBAI: Dubai Basketball delivered another unforgettable night at Coca-Cola Arena, defeating Real Madrid 93-85 to secure back-to-back EuroLeague home wins in the span of 48 hours.
In front of a fired-up 7,000-strong home crowd, Dubai once again turned the arena into one of the most difficult venues in the competition, overpowering one of the most decorated teams in European basketball through sheer energy.
The night did not start easily for the home side. Real Madrid imposed themselves early, opening up a lead and testing Dubai’s resilience. But as the game wore on, the atmosphere inside Coca-Cola Arena began to shift. Defensive stops sparked momentum, the crowd found its voice, and Dubai surged back into the contest with renewed intensity.
Dubai flipped the game late in the third quarter, igniting the arena with a relentless run that changed the tone of the night. From there, the home side never looked back. Defensive pressure, composed execution and confidence on both ends allowed Dubai to close out the game in style, holding Real Madrid scoreless from the field for long stretches of the final quarter.
Dubai’s first signing of the new season, Dzanan Musa, led the charge against his former club with a standout performance, while McKinley Wright, Filip Petrusev and Dwayne Bacon delivered key moments at crucial stages. Dubai’s latest signing, Bruno Caboclo, made an impact on both ends, which lifted the team during the comeback, and Aleksa Avramovic controlled the tempo as Dubai powered to another statement win.
Head Coach Jurica Golemac praised both the team’s mentality and the role of the home crowd, saying, “It was an extremely tense game. The last 15 minutes, we found our rhythm and the fans gave us this extra push. Against one of the best teams in the EuroLeague, to finish like this shows our character. We believe we can beat anybody.”
The victory marks another milestone in Dubai Basketball’s debut EuroLeague season, reinforcing Coca-Cola Arena’s growing reputation as one of the toughest home courts in the league.
As the season enters its decisive phase, belief continues to build — on the court, in the stands, and across the city — with Dubai Basketball firmly in the fight for the post-regular season phase.
