Warning: Kick the ganja habit or be booted out! (The Malay Mail)

FOOTBALLERS who use marijuana or ganja to enhance their performance will have to kick the habit immediately. Marijuana, since late last year, has been listed as a prohibited substance under narcotic analgesics under the Fifa manual for doping control in competitions. Earlier, it came under substances subject to partial restriction along with alcohol, local anaesthetics and corticosteroids. The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Medical Committee feel Fifa's move to prohibit the use of marijuana is appropriate since it is already a banned narcotic in most parts of Asia. The AFC Medical Committee have also amended their manual and have listed marijuana as a banned substance under narcotic analgesics. Other banned drugs include stimulants, anabolic steroids, beta-blockers, diuretics, peptide and glycoprotein hormones and related substances. Dr Gurcharan Singh, a member of the AFC Medical Committee and the chairman of the AFC Doping Control Committee, confirmed the ban on marijuana. "Fifa sent us a circular last year informing us that their medical committee have included marijuana as a banned substance. We have amended our manual," said Gurcharan, who is also a Fifa Sports Medicine Instructor and chairman of the Society of Sports Medicine under the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA). "Since marijuana is already a banned narcotic in most countries, it would be ridiculous to list it under substances subject to partial restriction," said Gurcharan. "Furthermore, being in possession of marijuana is an offence under the local law. As marijuana is addictive, it will lead users to stronger drugs." "It's dangerous to sportsmen. As they will not feel pain or tiredness after taking it before competition, there is a danger of them over- exerting or aggravating injuries." Gurcharan, who is also in the Medical Commission of the IBF and Medical and Doping commission of the OCM, said they welcomed the ban on marijuana though it was still accepted as a social drug in some countries. As the FA of Malaysia (FAM) plan to introduce doping tests next season, players better treat news of the ban seriously. Some Malacca and Perlis players were sacked recently for using or being in possession of the drug. (END)