WITH 48 players tested for drugs during the opening round of the Fiji FACT, three returned positive results.
While the Fiji Football Association has not released any names, social media has been flooded with speculation, particularly surrounding a few Lautoka F.C. players.
For drug use has long been a troubling issue in Fiji football, and no district has been spared.
Districts have strongly condemned drug use and continue to make efforts to stamp out the problem.
Yet the message still appears not to be reaching some players, raising a critical question-who is truly responsible?
Under FIFA global anti-doping regulations, the answer is clear.
Anti-doping operates under the principle of strict liability, meaning players are entirely responsible for any prohibited substance found in their bodies.
That shifts the conversation away from blame and toward personal accountability.
Criticism directed at the Lautoka Football Association for allegedly failing to educate or guide its players holds little weight.
Under anti-doping laws, clubs and associations can only do so much, it is ultimately the players who decide what they consume.
Reliable sources have confirmed to Sportsone that a Labasa F.C. player and a Nasinu F.C. player have also tested positive, yet little attention has been placed on their associations.
The Lautoka case emerged after a 2-0 win over Ba F.C.. Independent test results reportedly returned negative findings, raising questions about the credibility and consistency of the FFA’s testing process.
That issue, should not distract from the core problem.
Every district regularly educates players about the dangers and consequences of drug use while maintaining oversight where possible.
But choices ultimately remain with the players.
No club, coach, or district can fully control what an athlete puts into their body.
Fiji football’s drug problem will not disappear through finger-pointing or social media speculation.
Real change will only happen when players take full responsibility for their actions and make the choice to stay away from drugs.
