Iruni Tiberias Coach and Five Players Temporarily Suspended Over Doping Allegations
The National Anti-Doping Agency in Israel announced a dramatic development on July 5, 2026, suspending five players and three staff members of the Iruni Tiberias football team amid an ongoing investigation into doping violations. The suspended players are David Kaltins, Guy Hadida, Niv Gottlieb, Kendo Mamdo Samba, and Yonatan Teper. Alongside them, head coach Eliran Hodeda, technical manager Chen Sol, and fitness coach Shlomi Vedardo were also temporarily suspended.
The suspensions follow suspicions of administering prohibited doping substances to the players, a case currently under investigation by the Israel Football Association in cooperation with the National Anti-Doping Agency. The agency’s CEO, Dr. Daniel Hershtein, described the situation as an "exceptional case of collective failure," emphasizing the seriousness with which the agency, the football association, and the Ministry of Sports are treating the matter. He reaffirmed their commitment to clean sports in Israel in line with international agreements.
The suspended individuals will be granted the right to a hearing and may pursue plea bargains or trials under the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) code. Meanwhile, the team’s planned training camp in Poland ahead of the 2026/2027 season is now uncertain due to these developments.
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