Jordan coach Ray Wilkins hopping mad over doping fiasco

Sydney: Jordan coach Ray Wilkins blasted Asian Cup organisers on Thursday after a botched doping test made one of his players sick, potentially ruling him out of the tournament.

The Jordanian FA has lodged a formal protest to the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) over striker Ahmad Hayel`s treatment, claiming he began vomiting after being forced to drink water to help him give a urine sample after a 1-0 defeat by Iraq earlier this week.

Wilkins confirmed Hayel will miss Friday`s game against Palestine in Melbourne, and possibly their final Group D clash with Japan, and accused the AFC of ignoring the well-being of players.

"The important thing is to put football into perspective," Wilkins told reporters after being prevented from entering the stadium because he had left his accreditation pass at the team hotel.

"People are far more important than a game of football. Ahmad lost so much fluid the other night, we were very, very concerned as to his well-being.

"I will not chance any young man if he has a problem, never -- so we may lose Ahmad for two games. We`ve lost a very important player."

Hayel was made to drink "several litres of water" as a result of being unable to immediately provide a urine sample on Monday, causing the player to throw up and feel dizzy, according to the Jordanian FA, a team doctor adding that the test had to be cancelled.

Jordanian FA general secretary Fadi Zureikat subsequently lodged a protest to the AFC, citing the "unhealthy procedure" taken in the doping test.

The AFC insisted that the proper protocol had been followed, but a furious Wilkins let rip after security staff initially refused to allow him through the door.

"Today we stood outside for 10 minutes because we had no accreditation," shrugged the former Queens Park Rangers and Fulham manager. "The other night my player was struggling. What`s more important, accreditation or the guy? I`m sure you`ll agree the guy."

Zureikat complained that Jordan officials had to ferry Hayel back to the team hotel by private car, claiming the player left the doping room in a "semi-coma" and suffering from hypothermia.

Wilkins added that he had not had any contact with the AFC since the incident.

"I`ve heard nothing whatsoever," he said. "It`s a big competition and I expect (the organisers) have lots of things to consider. But the most important consideration must be the well-being of the player."

The track-suited Wilkins was then involved in a finger-pointing row with organisers after being escorted from the building before training as a team official was dispatched to fetch his pass.

"My player`s dying, and what`s all this about the accreditation?" Wilkins told AFP as a melee ensued outside the media centre. "It`s bollocks," he raged, before adding that Hayel`s condition had improved, saying: "He`s sound, he`s great."