Three players tested positive for illegal drugs in the first two-days of the Extra Battle of the Giants.
Fiji Football Association chief executive Mohammed Yusuf revealed that a total of 48 tests were done on Friday and Saturday.
“Day one, a total of 24 drug tests, one positive. Day two a total of 24, two positives,” he said.
The Fiji FA tested another group of 24 players yesterday with the results to be announced today.
When asked if their disciplinary punishment is severe enough to stop players from using drugs, Yusuf said their disciplinary committee is on top of their game regarding this.
“We will review the punishment, at the moment our disciplinary committee is going hard on the players who are testing positive.
“A first-time offender gets a fine and a three-month suspension, then they go and appear in front of the disciplinary committee, if the committee feels a harsher sentence is needed, they can increase it.”
In their continued effort to fight drug use, the Fiji FA is teaming up with a non-governmental organisation to take drug awareness into districts.
“Next week we will be signing a term of reference with an NGO called Centre for Peace Building, it is an overseas funding organisation, and they do a lot of educational programs for the young kids, educating them to stay away from drugs.
“We are entering a partnership and as a result we will roll out this program, they will go out to every district, get all the players, parents, and communities together to talk on substance abuse,” Yusuf said.
Fiji Football national captain Roy Krishna also spoke against drugs, warning players of the implications of drug use on their playing career.
