Riyad Mahrez: Manchester City winger left out over doping concerns claims Pep Guardiola

Manchester City head coach Pep Guardiola has confirmed AFCON champion Riyad Mahrez was left out of the Community Shield team over concerns about the doping rules.

 

Mahrez, 28, led Algeria to their second Africa Cup of Nations title during the off-season but looked to cut short his pre-season break for the season curtain raiser against Liverpool at Wembley.

 

Despite being in Manchester, the €68m (R1.12bn) signing was left out of the squad by manager Pep Guardiola - who has now sought to explain the omission.

 

"Riyad called me just after being (crowned) champion with Algeria and said, 'I want to come back in 10 days, I want to play against Liverpool'. I said, 'You are more than welcome, it's perfect you come'," he said, as per Sport 360.

 

"But we don't have what he took… about the medicine.

 

"That's why, for doping control, today was a risk because the doctors didn't have it. That's why he wasn’t in the squad to play some minutes.

 

"He could have played some minutes but we could not take a risk because the doctors did not have exactly the medicines.

 

"Hopefully he will be back next game against West Ham and in the future everything will be normal."

 

The Citizens club record-signing scored 12 goals and registered as many assists in 44 games in his debut 2018/19 season.