AFL multicultural ambassador Bachar Houli says he’s yet to speak to St Kilda counterpart Ahmed Saad over the Saint’s positive test to a banned substance, but has promised his support.
Saad is at the centre of a probe over in-competition use of a banned substance, and may face a two-year ban if found guilty.
The AFL is investigating whether the 23-year-old Saint has breached the league’s anti-doping code after providing an irregular sample this month.
Houli and Saad share Muslim faith and speak regularly.
Both are multicultural ambassadors for the AFL.
Though Houli says he hasn’t spoken to Saad since the investigation became public on Wednesday, he will soon and promised to support him from “a brother perspective”.
“I haven’t spoken to him yet but I definitely won’t comment until I’ve spoken to him,” Houli said on Thursday.
“I’ll just be the brother that I am … I have a lot to do with him. I speak to him probably every two weeks. But I haven’t spoken to him since the news has come out.”
Houli received far better news on Thursday, with the federal government tipping in more than $150,000 to his Islamic Australian rules program.
The federal funding, announced on Thursday, is for the Bachar Houli Cup for Islamic schools.
The Richmond star’s program also includes the Bachar Houli Academy – an elite program for 14 to 16 year olds from the Islamic community.
Houli’s program has been shortlisted for a Beyond Sport Award against international challengers such as the NFL and USA Swimming to be presented in Philadelphia next month.