A player who tested negative for drugs at the Extra Battle of the Giants 2025 (BOG) on Sunday had their test results showing signs of alcohol consumption instead.
This was revealed by Fiji Football Association chief executive Mohammed Yusuf in an interview with Times Sport at the association’s main office in Vatuwaqa, Suva yesterday.
“Another interesting factor was that one player was also detected to be under the influence of alcohol,” Yusuf said.
“So this is something that we’ll now look at and advice the district where he’s from.
“Obviously, he must have consumed alcohol while being in camp in Labasa.”
When sought for clarification, Yusuf said the player was not suspended yet but confirmed that as a result, procedures regarding it would be put in place.
“Well, in front of the referees, he looked sober and he didn’t smell of liquor but his system had alcohol in it so that’s a process that we will design policies and then it will take effect,” he explained.
Meanwhile, as no players tested positive for drugs on the final day of pool games, three did so in the first two days of competition on Friday and Saturday and according to Yusuf, the trio have been suspended.
And Yusuf highlighted the data derived from the tests would help the association step up its efforts to combat the use of drugs or the consumption of alcohol within the sport.
During the first three days of competition for the Battle of the Giants, a total of 72 tests, 24 per day, were conducted.
Since the competition began last Friday, only three players tested positive. Day one saw one player test positive while on day two, there were two positive tests.
Meanwhile, in the semi-finals this Saturday, Navua plays Labasa at 2pm at Subrail Park while Rewa takes on Lautoka at 4.30pm.
The final kicks off at 3pm on Sunday.
