Zineddine Derrag of ASFAR during the CAF Confederation Cup 2022/23 quarterfinal between FAR Rabat and USM Alger at Prince Moulay Abdallah Stadium in Rabat, Morocco on 30 April 2023 ©Nour Akanja/BackpagePix
Saturday Apr 11, 2026. 11:00
AS FAR have confirmed that the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has suspended Zineddine Derrag for three months after he tested positive for a banned substance.
The 27-year-old midfielder has made nine appearances in the CAF Champions League this season to help Alexandre Santos’ side reach the semi-finals.
However, Derrag is now ineligible to face Moroccan rivals RS Berkane in the two-legged tie after he failed a doping test during a routine check after one of Al-Zaeem’s continental matches.
The midfield anchorman is believed to have unknowingly taken a product that contained a prohibited substance and he has cooperated fully with the authorities.
The club noted in a statement that Derrag had been tested numerous times in the past, both domestically and in CAF competitions, without any incident.
“As part of routine anti-doping checks, the African Anti-Doping Committee informed us of an abnormal test result for player Zineddine Derrag after one of our African matches,” part of the statement read.
“In accordance with the decision of the CAF Disciplinary Committee dated 8 April 2026, player Zineddine Derrag is suspended for three months, effective 9 April 2026.”