Jarrod Bowen has revealed that an anti-doping test kept him away from West Ham’s dressing-room celebrations for around an hour after their 2023 Europa Conference League triumph.
The forward scored the 90th-minute winner against Fiorentina in Prague, securing a 2-1 victory and his place in West Ham history.
However, he could not immediately join his teammates inside the changing room.
Reflecting on the occasion in West Ham’s official interview, Bowen explained the delay.
“I got drug tested so I didn’t even go in there for about an hour,” he said.
Jarrod Bowen recalls West Ham’s Prague celebrations
The following day’s trophy parade remains another standout memory for the captain.
Bowen recalled returning to England after a sleepless night and finding supporters lining the streets despite many fans still being in Prague.
The journey from the old Upton Park ground towards Stratford brought home the scale of the achievement. He remembered supporters watching from rooftops and traffic lights as the squad celebrated with the community.
His winning goal remains one of the defining moments covered in our West Ham club history guide.
Bowen has since taken on a different challenge, committing his future to West Ham following relegation and helping lead the push for promotion.
His latest recollection offers a personal detail from the club’s European success: the player who delivered the decisive finish had to wait before joining the dressing-room party.
