Iruni Tiberias Coach and Five Players Temporarily Suspended Over Doping Allegations
Translated & summarized from N12 by baba
The National Anti-Doping Agency suspended five Iruni Tiberias players and three staff members on July 5, 2026, amid doping investigations. The case is described as an exceptional collective failure, and the team’s upcoming training camp in Poland is now uncertain.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Five Iruni Tiberias players and three staff members suspended over doping suspicions.
- Suspensions announced by Israel’s National Anti-Doping Agency on July 5, 2026.
- Investigation conducted jointly with Israel Football Association.
- Suspended include coach Eliran Hodeda and technical staff Chen Sol and Shlomi Vedardo.
- Suspended individuals have rights to hearings and legal proceedings under WADA code.
- Team’s planned 2026/2027 training camp in Poland is now in doubt.
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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