Algerian Footballer Who Failed Doping Test Banned for Four Years

Algerian footballer Hicham Cherif may not play football again until he turns 27 after being banned for four years.

A member of the Desert Foxes’ set up, Hicham’s suspension comes after the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) officials found traces of banned substances relating to cocaine in his submitted sample test.

The four-year embargo follows a hearing before the Algerian domestic league association disciplinary committee in which the aforesaid player was accorded a chance to provide his version of the story.

Apparently, the attacking midfielder’s defense failed to persuade the board who opted to impose punitive measures instead.

Employed to current league leaders USM Alger and son to Cherif El-Ouzzani – erstwhile national team coach of Algeria –the ban, if not reversed on appeal, will effectively mean Cherif Jnr stays away from playing football and all sports-related activities until he turns 27.

“The commission announced the suspension of the player of the MC Algiers Hichem Cherif El Ouazani for a duration of four years from of all competitions or sports activities from the 30/01/2019 and fined 200,000 DA of fine,” the committee said in a statement.

The 23-year-old has yet to officially respond to the sanctions but his side of the coin has been that he used Benzoylegonine and Methylergonovine to ease of pain on the heels of a secret hemorrhoids surgery he had, hidden from his club doctors for fear of being excluded from the team’s season plans.