CAF Suspends Moroccan Defender Hamza Moussaoui For Two Years Over Doping
Rabat – The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has suspended Moroccan defender Hamza Moussaoui of RS Berkane for two years after testing positive for a banned substance.
The decision was announced by the CAF’s disciplinary committee, chaired by Senegalese official Oussame Kane, following a lengthy hearing on Wednesday.
According to CAF sources quoted by Qatari outlet WinWin, the ruling came after Moussaoui’s sample, taken after Berkane’s Champions League group stage match against Pyramids FC, showed traces of a prohibited substance listed in the 2026 anti‑doping regulations.
The committee explained that Moussaoui did not hold any therapeutic use exemption to justify the presence of the substance in his system. This absence of authorization reinforced the decision to impose a two‑year ban.
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Reports indicate that Moussaoui admitted to consuming the substance once he received the test results. He declined to request analysis of the B sample, effectively accepting the findings of the initial test.
The suspension prevents him from taking part in all CAF and FIFA‑sanctioned competitions and football activities. The only exception is participation in rehabilitation programs approved under anti‑doping frameworks.
Despite the severity of the punishment, Moussaoui retains the right to appeal. CAF’s disciplinary committee confirmed that he may challenge the ruling before the CAF Appeals Board, a step he is expected to consider in the coming weeks.
The case has drawn attention across African football, given Moussaoui’s role with RS Berkane and his reputation as a reliable defender.
His absence will be a major blow to the Moroccan club, which has relied on his consistency in domestic and continental competitions.
CAF’s decision also shows its commitment to enforcing anti‑doping rules strictly. Officials stressed that maintaining credibility and fairness in African football requires firm action against violations, regardless of the player’s status or the club involved.
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