Doha: The Qatar Anti-Doping (QAD) organized a lecture about integrity on the field, held on the sidelines of the elite referees' preparatory training camp, conducted ahead of the 2025/2026 football season.
Youssef Al Mannai, Abdullah Al Swidani and Omar Hassanat of QAD's education and research team delivered the lecture, in the presence of all elite referees, trainers, instructors, and referee assessors.
The lecture addressed a range of topics, including anti-doping rule violations, going over the list of prohibited substances, the side effects of doping, and doping control procedures, with the aim of educating referees on these crucial aspects before the start of the new football season.
Chairperson of the Referees Committee at the Qatar Football Association (QFA) Hani Taleb Ballan emphasized the role of referees in safeguarding integrity on the field, describing them as the judges on the pitch. He also praised QAD's efforts in raising referees' awareness.
The elite referees' preparatory training camp concludes Monday, after 12 days of intensive focus on physical, technical, and mental readiness, held to ensure that referees are at full blast ahead of the Doha Bank Stars League, to commence on August 14.
Referees underwent a comprehensive and intensive program, which included technical and legal lectures, along with VAR training and evening fitness sessions.
