Fifa targets tests on Chirambo, Kaipa

Fifa agents unexpectedly came into the country and conducted drug tests on Flames players Douglas Chirambo and Bongani Kaipa on Tuesday morning.

The players confirmed yesterday that the agents were accompanied by Dr Matthews Mangondo when they visited them at their respective homes.

Football Assoication of Malawi (FAM) chief executive officer Suzgo Nyirenda said yesterday that he was not aware of the visitors.

He, however, described the random drug tests on the players as normal operations Fifa conducts in football playing nations to fight against doping.

Big Bullets defender Chirambo said three Fifa agents and Mangondo visited him at his residence in Chilomoni Township in Blantyre on Tuesday morning to conduct the test.

“I did not know anything about their coming until I heard a knock on the door. I told them to find me in my bedroom since I was bedridden due to malaria. They introduced themselves before asking for a urine sample.

“They said they will take me together with the other Flames players they had conducted the tests on to South Africa in four weeks’ time for second tests,” said Chirambo.

Chirambo, however, said he was not surprised by the surprise visit because he had experienced similar scenarios when he played for the Under-17 and Under-20 national teams. He said the only difference was that, then, the Fifa agents approached him when he was with the junior Flames outside the country.

According to Nyirenda, this is the first time Fifa has conducted door-to-door drugs tests on Flames players in the country.

“As FAM, we were not aware of their coming, but that is how Fifa operates all over the world in their fight against doping. They randomly target a few national team players for such tests,” said Nyirenda.

“If they find that there are illegal drug substances in the urine samples of the selected players, they will suspend them and not the entire national team. I urge all footballers to stay away from banned substances,” he said.

Mangondo could not be reached for comment on how the Fifa agents approached him for the random tests.