The Swiss Federal Tribunal has dismissed the appeal submitted by Ramadan Sobhi against his four-year suspension, making the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruling final, binding, and fully enforceable across all standard legal avenues.
The verdict concludes a legal battle spanning more than two years and leaves the Pyramids FC winger facing a harsh reality—one that extends beyond missing official matches to include a prohibition from organized team training and club facilities for the vast majority of his suspension.
How the Case Began
The origin of the crisis dates back to August 21, 2023, when Sobhi underwent an out-of-competition anti-doping test. The WADA-accredited laboratory in Barcelona determined that the first sample did not correspond to the natural characteristics of human urine. The sanction was not issued for detecting a banned substance in the player’s system, but rather for the use or attempted use of a prohibited method to tamper with a sample.
The Egyptian Anti-Doping Organization (EADO) provisionally suspended the player on May 26, 2024. However, the Egyptian hearing committee ruled on July 30 that no violation was established and lifted the suspension. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) subsequently lodged an appeal with CAS in September of the same year.
On November 26, 2025, CAS overturned the Egyptian ruling, finding that Sobhi had added a liquid other than urine to the sample, compromising its integrity and suitability for analysis. CAS imposed a four-year suspension while deducting the time served under provisional suspension. The Swiss Federal Tribunal’s rejection of the appeal permanently closes the final standard avenue of recourse.
Consequences for Sobhi and Pyramids FC
Under Article 10.14 of the WADA Code, Sobhi is prohibited from participating in any capacity in matches or sporting activities organized by any signatory body. He is barred from training with Pyramids FC or any club affiliated with a national association, as well as using club facilities for training purposes throughout the duration of his sanction.
The player may return to collective team training and utilize club facilities only during the final two months of his suspension—representing the shorter period compared to the final quarter of the ban—though he remains ineligible for official competition until the full term expires.
Regarding his contract with Pyramids FC, which Egyptian reports state runs until 2028, automatic termination is not triggered solely by the confirmation of the sanction, as WADA rules do not mandate contract cancellations. However, given that Pyramids cannot utilize the player through the end of his contractual deal, a separation represents the most practical scenario—either through termination for just cause under applicable regulations and contract terms, or via a mutual settlement.
From the Pinnacle of Egyptian Football to Collapse
Sobhi launched his senior career with Al Ahly in 2014 at age 17, rapidly establishing himself as one of Egypt’s foremost talents before transferring to Stoke City in 2016 and later Huddersfield Town. He returned to Al Ahly on loan and captained the Egypt U-23 team to victory in the 2019 U-23 Africa Cup of Nations.
He completed a transfer to Pyramids FC in 2020 for approximately £2.5 million, winning the Egypt Cup and the CAF Champions League with the club. However, injuries and diminished international involvement were compounded by the anti-doping proceedings, alongside a conviction in an unrelated academic impersonation case, where his one-year prison sentence was suspended.
After accounting for his prior provisional suspension, Sobhi will be ineligible to return to competitive action until approximately the autumn of 2029, by which time he will be 32 years old. While a comeback remains legally permissible, rebuilding a professional career following years without official matches or structured team training presents an immense sporting hurdle.
