JEDDAH: Al-Ittihad and Saudi national team star Fahad Al-Mowallad is targeting a return to playing after being allowed to resume training on Monday following a doping ban.

The 25-year-old received a one-year ban from local and international competitions after testing positive for a performance-enhancing drug on March 19, 2019.

His suspension had been set to end in May. But in recent months, Al-Mowallad has traveled to France to start a distinguished physical preparation program in the buildup to his return to football.

The prominent player made history when he joined Spanish first division club Levante in 2018.

Al-Mowallad flew to Dubai from Paris but could not travel to Jeddah because Saudi Arabia has temporarily suspended land and sea travel to and from Dubai this week.

After being ferried back to the Kingdom by a special Saudi Airlines flight to King Abdul Aziz International Airport on Tuesday morning, Al-Mowallad said: “Now I just want to get back to playing football.”

Al-Mowallad is expected to join his club in the last two rounds of the season against Al-Nasser and Al-Addallah.