Guam soccer player fails doping test

by Chris Barnett

The governing body of world soccer has provisionally suspended a Guam Team Matao player for testing positive for doping after Guam’s World Cup qualifier 1-0 loss to Oman in Oman on March 24 of this year.

The initial suspension, according to national media outlets and the official FIFA  website -covers all matches including domestic, international, friendlies and official FIFA matches. The suspension is for 30 days pending a disciplinary hearing.

FIFA has not named the player or the substance which prompted the suspension but Guam Football Association president Richard Lai told KUAM Sports the Matao player in question tested positive for an enhancer – not illegal steroids or drugs.

Lai going on to tell KUAM Sports that the player insists the enhancer he tested positive for was on the list of FIFA approved performance enhancers. The unnamed Matao player can still appeal the FIFA decision and suspension at the disciplinary hearing - but until then the who and what are anyone’s guess.

According to FIFA articles “further information may only be disclosed after it has been determined in a hearing that an anti doping rule violation has occurred” in which case the player’s name will be released along with any possible punishment in the way of fines or sanctions for Team Matao or Guam National Soccer.

The story made headlines in national media outlets in the Pacific Region as well as in USA Today and the Washington Times where only months ago those same media outlets were trumpeting Guam's relative success in FIFA World Cup qualifier play.