Fiji Football Association chief executive officer Mohammed Yusuf has raised serious concerns after 24 positive drug screening results were reported during the first three days of the FMF Inter-District Championship.
Speaking at the Fiji FA Coaches Workshop at the Fiji FA Academy in Suva today, Yusuf said the results, recorded across the three divisions, highlighted the need for greater awareness and stronger player welfare measures.
“After three days of drug testing, we got 24 positive. Twenty-four positive cases across the three divisions,” Yusuf said.
He expressed particular concern over the involvement of younger players, revealing that a 17-year-old was among those who had returned a positive screening result.
“It’s alarming,” he said.
Yusuf urged district officials and coaches to take greater responsibility for player welfare and strengthen education and awareness programmes.
“Football must be clean,” he stressed.
He said Fiji FA had also held discussions with the Drug-Free Sport chief executive officer and senior police officials on addressing drug-related concerns in football.
Meanwhile, Yusuf called on districts to take greater ownership of women’s football, saying Fiji FA continued to invest heavily in its development.
“We need to take ownership. Districts need to take ownership of women’s football,” he said.
Yusuf said while some districts were actively supporting women’s teams, others needed to show greater commitment.
