The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) issued a ruling on October 6, 2017, in a case involving FIFA, the Fédération Algérienne de Football (FAF), and professional footballer Walid Abdelli, concerning an anti-doping violation. The case stemmed from a doping control test on January 22, 2016, where Abdelli provided a urine sample that was later found to be diluted with water, rendering it ineffective for testing. Laboratories in Lausanne and Cologne confirmed the sample was not genuine urine, leading to charges of urine substitution and chemical manipulation under FIFA’s Anti-Doping Regulations (ADR). The FAF Disciplinary Commission initially imposed a two-year ban with one year suspended, citing unintentional conduct, but FIFA appealed to CAS, arguing for a stricter four-year sanction due to deliberate tampering.
The CAS panel, composed of arbitrators Alexander McLin, Luigi Fumagalli, and Alain Zahlan de Cayetti, reviewed the evidence, including testimony from laboratory experts who confirmed the sample’s irregularities. The panel rejected Abdelli’s claim of unintentional conduct, emphasizing that professional athletes are expected to understand anti-doping rules and that deliberate sample manipulation undermines the integrity of doping controls. The panel upheld FIFA’s appeal, imposing a four-year ban, backdated to January 30, 2017, to account for Abdelli’s provisional suspension. The decision highlighted the importance of strict enforcement of anti-doping measures, even in cases where intent to cheat is not proven, as ignorance of the rules does not excuse violations.
The case also raised procedural concerns, such as the doping control officer’s failure to directly observe the sample collection, which might have prevented the violation. However, the panel found no evidence of external tampering and upheld the laboratory findings. The FAF maintained its commitment to anti-doping efforts but argued for a lesser sanction, while Abdelli did not participate in the proceedings. The ruling underscored CAS’s jurisdiction in such disputes, as both FIFA and FAF statutes recognize its authority. The final decision dismissed all other motions, reinforcing the four-year ban as a deterrent against future violations and upholding the principles of fair play in sports.