Algeria ( CNN ) -- Mohammed Qassi Al Saeed , Mohammed Shoaib , Saleh Larbas , Jamal Manad , and Tak Ben Sawlah all played international football for Algeria in the 1980s . But , as well as being teammates for their national side , the players also share another common bond -- each one of them has fathered a child that suffers from mental health problems . The players say they suspect this is no coincidence , more a direct consequence of taking performance-enhancing drugs while playing for their country , without their knowledge or consent . Rashid Hanafi is a respected figure in Algerian sport . He is president of the Algerian Olympic Committee , but was once doctor for the national side . He admits that suspicious practices occurred during the 1980s . `` When Russian Gennady Rogov took over as coach in 1981 , I was not allowed to take a look at the medical records of the players any more , '' Hanafi told CNN . `` I suspected he was trying to do some suspicious tests , and this is why I submitted a detailed report to the national center of Algeria sports and medicine and the ministry of sports . `` But they asked me not to interfere in the work of the Russian team , which is why I decided to resign . `` Whether the coaches used drugs on the players , and whether that affected their children negatively is something I can not confirm . But nonetheless , Russians were known in the late 1970s and early 1980s for their suspicious behavior on the sport field . '' Hanafi added : `` It is not necessarily true that these drugs had a direct effect on the children , but if we look at the whole situation we 'll find that most players ' children have some mental issues . '' Rogov , who is no longer alive , led Algeria to a famous victory over West Germany at the 1982 World Cup . CNN 's efforts to reach any doctors who worked with the Algerian team at that time proved unsuccessful . But could these players and their families merely be victims of coincidence ? Professor Richard Sharpe , a senior scientist at the Medical Research Council Human Reproductive Sciences Unit in Scotland , doubts that any performance-enhancing drug or steroid could be transferred to offspring in such a manner . `` It is possible you can take a drug that would cause mutations of DNA and therefore result in children being born with disabilities , '' Sharpe told CNN . `` But I think it is extremely unlikely that this would happen -- and I know of no drugs or substances that would be used to enhance sporting prowess that could be transferred and therefore cause these abnormalities . '' Like Hanafi , none of the players can prove there is a direct link , but they want answers to what has happened to their children -- and it is their words that are most poignant of all . Shoaib had three daughters who all suffered mental health problems , with one of them , he says , dying as a result of her condition . `` Nobody can understand our suffering , '' he told CNN . `` I am shocked because I never took drugs in my life -- unless of course I was given them without our knowledge and that the Russian coaches knew it . '' He added : `` Some years later , I met with some of my former teammates and we discovered that we were all in the same situation : me , Qassi Al Saeed ( his daughter ) , Larbas ( a son ) , Jamal Manad ( three sons ) and Ben Sawlah ( daughter ) . We all played at the same time , so we decided to make it public , and find out why . '' None of the players would elaborate on those mental issues , which is not uncommon given cultural taboos surrounding the issue in that part of the world . Larbas ' son Bilas is now 12 years old . `` When he was born , I said , 'This is our fate , and we should accept it , ' `` Larbas told CNN . `` It did not come to my mind that this could be something related to drugs , until I met up with the other guys . `` I remember the Russian doctors who used to supervise our treatment during training sessions ; all we cared about was playing and winning . I know it will be difficult to reveal the truth without sufficient evidence , but opening an investigation is very important . '' Al Saeed also wants answers . `` I believe in fate , but having the same mental problem among everyone in the team is something very strange , '' he told CNN . `` I do n't understand what Dr. Hanafi said in terms of not allowing him to view the files , which means that a group of people were doing something in the dark , but we will not stop asking for our right to know . '' He added : `` My second daughter , Madina , was born in 1989 . When she reached school age , she said to me : 'Why ca n't I go to school like other girls ? ' I did not know what to say , so I held her and cried . `` Is there anyone in this world who prefers money and fame and have some unhealthy children ? I do n't think so , so we need immediate answers from authorities . We know that reopening this case is difficult , but we need to know the reasons that made us reach this point . ''
Several former Algerian footballers have fathered children with disabilities . These players believe they were administered drugs in the 1980s without their consent . The Algerian national team had Russian coaches and doctors at the 1982 World Cup . Scientist doubts that effects of performance-enhancing drugs can be passed on .