New doping allegation shakes Tiberias after Ashdod complaint

A new controversy broke out in Israeli football after the Israel Football Association said it received a formal complaint from M.S. Ashdod’s lawyers alleging that Ironi Tiberias used banned IV infusions before the teams met in the relegation playoffs, a match Tiberias won 3-0. The case is still under investigation, and the key dispute is whether players received more than 100 milliliters, the threshold that could make the treatment illegal under anti-doping rules.

Officials involved with Israel’s National Anti-Doping Organization said that if Tiberias is proven guilty, the punishment could be severe, including suspension from official competitions for up to four years, voiding of matches and results, and personal sanctions against players or staff found responsible. The next step could be a hearing or formal prosecution, and the Football Association may also launch its own disciplinary or legal process in parallel.

Tiberias insists the treatment was given legally during a recovery training session the day after the team’s previous match against Hapoel Haifa, saying it was meant to help players cope with a heavy schedule and avoid dehydration. Club officials suggested Ashdod, which has already been relegated, is trying to survive in the league through non-sporting means, and they alleged the southern club has influence within the association and benefits from a new, expensive stadium.

Club owner Arie Kalmanzon told Sport5 in an exclusive interview: “We are sure everything was done within the law, the players received 100 milliliters to prevent dehydration.” He said head coach Eliran Hudda and the medical staff handled it, and added that the treatment was a standard saline infusion with no prohibited substance. Kalmanzon also said the club is being targeted, stressing, “Whoever failed to beat us on the pitch is trying to create new scandals.”