2026 World Cup: Why Jérémy Doku was allowed to take a performance-enhancing drug

Suffering from a respiratory infection during the World Cup, Jérémy Doku made revelations on his YouTube channel. He revealed that he had been hospitalized. According to the Belgian press, the Manchester City winger was prescribed a banned cortisone-based medication. He reportedly received FIFA's approval to take this medication.

Jérémy Doku experienced a tumultuous 2026 World Cup. While he was scheduled to play against Iran, the Belgian winger decided to leave the national team's training camp to return to England for the birth of his child. He then returned to the United States for the remainder of the tournament.

"I started coughing up blood."

But the Manchester City winger made some revelations on his YouTube channel. He said he suffered from a very severe respiratory infection during the 2026 World Cup: “I couldn’t move, I could barely breathe, and I even started coughing up blood.”

This infection forced Jérémy Doku to be hospitalized in Seattle after Belgium's first match against Egypt: “At the hospital, they found that I had fluid in my lungs. The doctor told me that this doesn't happen often, they gave me medication and I did my best.”

According to information from La Dernière Heure, Jérémy Doku was prescribed a cortisone-based medication. This product is on the list of banned doping substances, but the Belgian international received a TUE (Therapeutic Use Exemption) and thus obtained FIFA's approval to take the medication. Given Jérémy Doku's condition, FIFA authorized him to take cortisone orally.

This treatment was necessary for Jérémy Doku to recover from his serious viral infection. During this World Cup, Belgium lost in the quarterfinals against Spain. Jérémy Doku did not score a single goal or provide a single assist.