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For its part, the Algerian Football Federation has said it will enforce more stringent testing for
performance-enhancing and social drugs, requesting that football clubs supply information on
training schedules in order to monitor players more regularly.
But El-Khabar described these measures as merely "cosmetic" and inconsistently enforced.
'Excessive salaries'
A number of papers also recall previous allegations of "systematic, involuntary" doping, after the
children of a number of players in the national team which reached the 1982 and 1986 World Cups
were born with severe disabilities.
The players ordered an investigation into the national team coach from the time.
Algerian authorities have not commented on the allegations and the investigation has yet to take
place. However, one of those affected, midfielder Mohamed Kaci-Said, has said "doubts persist until
an inquiry has been opened and the truth told".
Screengrab of article from website of El-Watan newspaperImage copyrightEl-Watan
Image caption
El-Watan criticised players' salaries
An article in Algeria's French language daily El-Watan attributes drug use among players to
"disproportionately high salaries" coupled with young players' "lack of maturity".
Algerian Echourouk Sports website directly asks whether the controversy will have an impact on the
country's possible participation in the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.
While some commentators also attribute the use of drugs to salaries and lack of responsibility,
others make more outlandish claims - that players such as Belaili were victims of a "conspiracy"
against Algerian football.
Although government and football officials have not commented on the reported increase in the use
of stimulants, Algeria's state-owned news agency APS discussed the "shattered dreams of a number
of promising sports stars" and noted that this may pose a significant setback to Algeria's
performance in the 2016 African Nations Championship.
Social media solidarity
Several Twitter hashtags were launched expressing solidarity with the Algerian player, including:
#JeSuisBelaili, #Solidarite_Avec_Belaili and #WeAreAllYoucef.
Tweet showing an image of Youcef BelailiImage copyrightTwitter
Image caption
Youcef Belaili has many supporters on social media
Algerian football commentator Hafid Derradji criticized the campaign in the press, saying Belaili was
fully responsible "morally, legally, and as a sportsman".
But, he also demanded that sports journalists accept responsibility for allegedly creating the
problem "by justifying Belaili's behaviour and feeding his ego".
One reader responded: "Perhaps we should go back to a time when Algerian footballers weren't paid
so much, they played well, and their only stimulants were bread and olive oil."