Informed sources confirmed that the Saudi Anti-Doping Committee has completed its scheduled official visits to Al-Nassr FC headquarters this season, as part of the routine procedures followed with all clubs in the Saudi Professional League. The sources explained that the club received two visits from the committee. The first visit, approximately two months ago, involved testing samples from a number of Saudi and foreign players. The second visit took place before the team's match against Al-Ahli FC, during which other players underwent testing, though Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo was not among them.
The general context of anti-doping programs
These measures are part of global and local efforts to ensure clean and fair sport. The Saudi Anti-Doping Committee, the national body responsible, operates in accordance with the standards of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), which sets the rules and protocols followed worldwide. The primary objective of these tests, both scheduled and random, is to protect the integrity of sporting competition and the health of athletes, and to deter any attempt to illegally use prohibited substances to enhance performance. These programs are an integral part of the modern professional sports system.
The importance of procedures in light of the development of the Saudi League
These tests are of paramount importance given the significant development of the Saudi League and its attraction of world-class players. Implementing rigorous and transparent anti-doping standards enhances the league's credibility on the international stage and underscores the Kingdom's commitment to the highest standards of sports governance. With increasing global scrutiny of domestic competitions, ensuring a doping-free competitive environment is a cornerstone of the success of the Saudi sports project and of attracting further investment and international talent.
International players and Ronaldo undergo medical tests
In a related development, sources revealed that several Al-Nassr international players, including Cristiano Ronaldo, Nawaf Al-Aqidi, Abdul-Ilah Al-Amri, Ayman Yahya, and Abdullah Al-Khaibari, underwent a separate COVID-19 test. This test was not conducted by the Saudi committee, but rather by a FIFA representative as part of FIFA's program for international players participating with their national teams in World Cup qualifiers. Furthermore, the random draw held after matches resulted in Ronaldo being selected for another test after the Al-Qadisiyah game, which sparked widespread discussion on social media due to the number of tests the global star underwent in such a short period. Sources confirmed that these procedures also applied to other clubs, with international players at Al-Hilal, such as Yassine Bounou, and at Al-Ahli also being tested, demonstrating that the protocol is applied to everyone without exception. With the scheduled field visits now complete, only the random selection of players after matches remains, which the committee will continue to implement until the end of the season.
