Morocco federation suspends five players for doping

RABAT, Apr 26 (Reuters) Morocco's soccer federation has suspended five players from four leading clubs after they tested positive following a surprise anti-doping crackdown, the governing body said today.

''The result of the unexpected anti-doping tests of the five players from four clubs was positive. The Federation's bureau decided to suspend them pending a final decision later on,'' the federation said in a statement.

The Royal Moroccan Football Federation did not name the players or their clubs but added: ''It was decided to make the anti-doping tests periodic and the tests will take place before and after the championship matches''.

The federation gave no more details but the main Arabic language daily al Ahdath al Maghribia said today that the suspended players were members of Morocco's Olympic squad and were tested on Tuesday after joining a training camp.

The paper quoted one suspended player, Abderrahmane Lamsassi of first division Maghrib Fes, as denying having knowingly taken an illegal substance. He said he took medicine for a headache.

Lamsassi and the other four players could not immediately be reached for comment.

Assabah, another Moroccan Arabic language daily, quoted unnamed official sources on Wednesday saying the players were suspended for taking a mix of resin cannabis and several dried fruits and honey known as 'Maajoune Hashish'.

REUTERS PDS HT1852