Yemen withdrew following doping concerns - AFC

SINGAPORE, Nov 25 (Reuters) Yemen pulled out of the Asian Games soccer tournament because of a lack of cash to drug-test their squad following reports that players were addicted to a banned substance, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) said.

Yemeni soccer chiefs withdrew the team on Thursday, citing insufficient funds to carry out dope tests ordered by the Yemen Olympic Council (YOC), the AFC said on its Web site.

The YOC had advised the YFA to consider pulling out following media reports that a number of players were using the banned drug khat, a leaf which has a stimulant effect when chewed.

Yemen were the second team to pull out after Turkmenistan's withdrawal on Tuesday.

The qualification process will be changed to allow the two runners-up from the first round to advance to the next stage along with the group winners.

The Asian Games soccer tournament gets under way on Tuesday, three days before the official Games opening.

REUTERS PDS KP1017