‘Hash use rampant in Saudi soccer’

Hashish use is prevalent in Saudi soccer, a former player revealed Monday, urging all clubs in the country to subject their players to random testing to filter out drug abuse.

In an interview with the Saudi al-Riyadiyah channel, Fouad Anwar urged Saudi football clubs to acknowledge the problem and work to resolve it by increasing awareness among youth and players to the drug’s harmful effects.

“This is something we must admit… Hashish [use] is widespread in our soccer,” the 41-year-old former midfielder said. “There must be an important awareness campaign in all clubs, especially in the first league and even among the youth.”

Anwar, a former captain of the Saudi national team, is known as the first Saudi to score in the 2-1 1991 FIFA World Cup finals against the Netherlands, which the latter team won by a single goal.