Federal Court move signals new phase in high-profile investigation
The legal case surrounding Ramadan Sobhi has entered a new stage after an appeal against his suspension was accepted by a federal court, according to statements from Ekrami El-Shahat.
Sobhi, who plays for Pyramids FC, has been at the centre of a complex doping dispute involving national and international authorities. The latest development follows earlier reports that the player had been handed a four-year suspension, as communicated by the Egyptian Anti-Doping Organization.
Speaking to MBC Egypt, El-Shahat confirmed that the appeal process had progressed.
He said: “The appeal submitted to the Federal Court regarding the suspension of Ramadan Sobhi due to doping has been accepted, and the letter has already reached us.”
Authorities seek responses as case progresses
El-Shahat indicated that the federal court would now correspond with the anti-doping authorities to gather further information related to the case timeline.
He added: “The Federal Court will send a letter to the Anti-Doping Organization to respond to what happened before last May, and then they will contact us to get responses from us.”
This procedural step suggests that the case remains under active review, with multiple parties expected to submit evidence and clarifications before a final ruling is reached.
Background of suspension and initial developments
Sobhi’s involvement this season has been limited, with the player featuring for just 13 minutes in an Intercontinental Cup match against Auckland City before the suspension came into effect.
Earlier in the process, El-Shahat had revealed ongoing coordination between senior figures in Egyptian football and the player’s legal team. He noted that communication had taken place with Mahmoud El Khatib, who had tasked representatives with supporting Sobhi’s legal defence alongside his lawyer and an international legal office.
Conflicting findings and ongoing appeals
The case has been further complicated by statements from Hazem Khamis, head of the Egyptian anti-doping system, who highlighted irregularities in the player’s sample.
He said: “Ramadan Sobhi’s sample had a flaw in some matters related to the codes.”
Khamis elaborated on the findings, stating: “When Ramadan Sobhi’s sample was analyzed, it turned out that it did not belong to the human component, and this is either tampering with the sample or the use of a prohibited method to combat doping.”
Despite these concerns, the player’s provisional suspension had previously been lifted pending further investigation. However, that decision was later appealed, with the case referred to the Court of Arbitration for Sport by both the World Anti-Doping Agency and the Egyptian body.
Khamis also acknowledged uncertainty surrounding other aspects of the case.
He said: “I don’t know the truth about Ramadan Sobhi’s request for financial compensation from the organization.”
Awaiting final verdict from international tribunal
The outcome of the case now appears to hinge on decisions at the international level, with the Court of Arbitration for Sport expected to play a decisive role.
Khamis concluded: “The final decision in the Ramadan Sobhi case will come from the international court, and this case is the first of its kind in Egypt, and if a penalty is imposed, it will be on the player and the Egyptian organization.”
Landmark case for Egyptian football
The acceptance of the appeal marks a significant moment in what has become a landmark doping case in Egyptian football. With multiple legal processes underway and conflicting interpretations of evidence, the final ruling could set an important precedent for how similar cases are handled in the future.
