Iran to sue Iraq’s Alaa Abdul-Zahra over doping allegations

Tasnim – TEHRAN,  The Iranian Football Federation (IFF) will lodge an official complaint with Asian Football Confederation against Alaa Abdul-Zahra for what it said the Iraqi player has failed drug test.

Iran National Anti-Doping Agency deputy Ramin Tabatabaei said on Saturday that Abdul-Zahra failed drug test when he was in Iran’s Tractor Sazi.

“I informed Mr. Sajjadi (vice-president of Professional and Athletic Sports Development) when we understood Team Melli would play Iraq in the quarter-final,” Tabatabaei said.

Iran Football Federation President Ali Kaffashian has been given all the documentation to share with AFC’s medical group and they will be asking the Iraqi side about the issue within the next 48 hours, Tabatabaei added.

Meantime, Iranian football team manager Mehdi Mohammad Nabi has traveled from Canberra to Sydney on Saturday to deliver complaint to AFC officials.‬