There has been a surprise in the Asia Cup, where a positive doping test was found in the doping control of the Bahrain national team in their match against South Korea. According to the AFC, which organises the tournament, banned substances were found in the sample of left-back Hazza Ali Ateeq Mubarak in the match against the South Koreans.

The 28-year-old Al-Riffa player completed the match and, in the post-match analysis of Juan Antonio Pizzi's squad, he tested positive for a banned substance or its metabolites. The AFC has not confirmed what the substance is, but has said the player will be provisionally suspended until the counter-analysis is completed and the Bahrain player makes his defence.

Hazza Ali played all 90 minutes in the 3-1 loss to Jurgen Klinsmann's side and was also in Pizzi's starting line-up in the 1-0 win over Malaysia that kept Bahrain alive in the Asian Cup. He was replaced in the 79th minute by Abdulla Al-Khalasi.

Bahrain still have a chance of qualifying for the next round of the Asian Cup, something they will automatically achieve if they beat Jordan on Thursday. In the event of a draw, Pizzi's side would also have a good chance of reaching the play-offs for the title. If they make it through, they will do so without Hazza Ali, who is awaiting counter-analysis for his defence.

January 25, 2024

Hazza Ali

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