SEOUL, South Korea -- K-league officials say South Korea forward Kang Soo-il has failed a doping test.
The 27-year-old Kang was due to make his international debut in a friendly against United Arab Emirates in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday but was left out of the lineup by coach Uli Stielike following the news.
League officials said the Jeju United star's "A" sample taken in May tested positive for an anabolic steroid, methyltestosterone. He is facing a K-League ban of 15 games.
He is due to return to South Korea on Thursday. Kang will miss the national team's first qualification game for the 2018 World Cup against Myanmar in Bangkok on Tuesday.