The Confederation of African Football (CAF) is making significant strides in its ongoing battle against doping in African football. Through its Anti-Doping Unit, CAF has intensified efforts to eliminate the use of performance-enhancing drugs and uphold the integrity of the sport.

CAF’s Commitment to a Drug-Free Football Environment

Under the leadership of CAF President Dr. Patrice Motsepe, the governing body is committed to ensuring African football remains globally competitive by eliminating doping violations.

In collaboration with COSAFA Zonal Union, CAF recently held an Anti-Doping Workshop in Johannesburg, South Africa, gathering medical practitioners from across Southern Africa for training and discussions.

“Since 2020, we have conducted 900 tests per year, which is quite remarkable. However, we are not entirely satisfied. Our goal is to completely eradicate doping in African football,” said CAF Senior Anti-Doping Manager, Sherif Abou El Enein.

The Johannesburg workshop follows successful editions in Monrovia, Liberia, and Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, where CAF worked closely with Zonal Unions to train qualified medical professionals.

Appointment of Highly Qualified Medical Doctors as Doping Control Officers

CAF is also reinforcing its Doping Control Officers (DCOs) program by appointing only qualified medical doctors for this crucial role.

“Doping control is a delicate process that directly impacts players’ careers. To ensure credibility, CAF has made it mandatory for DCOs to be qualified medical doctors,” said El Enein.

Players found guilty of doping violations face bans of up to five years, making it essential for the process to be handled by experienced and highly trained professionals.

CAF Integrates Technology in Anti-Doping Efforts

To enhance efficiency and eliminate human error, CAF has adopted MODOC, a paperless doping control system that digitizes the entire testing process.

This move aligns with CAF’s broader strategy of incorporating advanced technology to improve football governance and administration.

With these measures, CAF continues its mission to safeguard the integrity of African football by ensuring strict anti-doping regulations, improved drug testing methods, and highly trained personnel.

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