Tiberias Football Club Officials Claim Owner Initiated Player Infusions Amid Doping Probe

Following the National Anti-Doping Agency's indictment against Ironi Tiberias coach Eliran Hodeda and technical manager Chen Sol, new details have emerged from their investigations. The agency has demanded a suspension ranging from four years up to a lifetime ban for both individuals. Hodeda stated that the infusions given to players were initiated by the club owner, Miki Beitan, who expressed concern over the players' fatigue during an intense period of matches occurring every three to four days over one to two months. Beitan suggested using infusions, a practice common in the United States and elsewhere, to help players recover.

Hodeda said he sought to verify the legality of the infusions and asked Sol to consult with then fitness coach Shlomi Vadraro, who reportedly approved the practice as legal and proper. However, Vadraro contradicted this claim in his own testimony. In his investigation, Sol distanced himself from direct responsibility, stating he only communicated with Vadraro and relayed that the procedure was customary. When Hodeda requested the infusions be administered in a hospital, they were told it was not possible, and instead, a volunteer paramedic named Yossi was suggested to perform the procedure.

Sol admitted to ordering saline solution but claimed he did so based on cost without medical expertise. He emphasized he had no medical authority and acted solely on instructions given to him. The controversy centers on whether the infusions constituted doping violations and the extent of each party's responsibility. The case continues to unfold as the league and authorities review the evidence.