The Israeli Football Association has received a formal complaint from the lawyers of M.S. Ashdod alleging that Ironi Tiberias used banned substances around the teams’ relegation playoff match. The National Anti-Doping Agency is now involved, and the matter is being investigated.
The game took place on May 3 at Yud-Alef Stadium in Ashdod, where Tiberias won 3-0. Sambinha scored in the third minute, Ondrej Bacho doubled the lead in the 61st minute, and Guy Hadida sealed the result in the 74th minute. Ashdod was relegated to the second division at the end of the season.
According to the report, the anti-doping agency is working with the football association to examine the case and, if needed, bring charges against those involved under the WADA code. No findings have been announced yet.
Tiberias responded that the club “fully supports Aliran Hodda” and believes that any action taken, if it was taken at all, was done legally and in accordance with the rules. The club asked the public not to judge based only on media reports, and said Hodda is currently on a family vacation abroad and will address any claims when he returns to Israel.