Support The Moscow Times!

FIFA Says No Evidence of Doping Among Russian Players

Andrei Nikerichev / Moskva News Agency

FIFA on Sunday rejected a British media report alleging doping cover-ups among Russian national team football players, saying it had not found any evidence of doping among Russia's players as the country hosts the World Cup finals.

Reiterating a statement it made last month, FIFA said "insufficient evidence was found to assert an anti-doping rule violation by any footballer."

It added that the investigations opened against players named to Russia's preliminary squad last month had been closed.

Rubin Kazan defender Ruslan Kambolov, investigated by FIFA over alleged doping violations, was named in Russia's preliminary squad last month but later sustained an injury and was left out of the final selection.

"In the course of the investigations FIFA looked at every possible evidence, leaving no stone unturned," the global football governing body said.

FIFA launched investigations into possible anti-doping violations by Russian soccer players after a report commissioned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) found that more than 1,000 Russian competitors across more than 30 sports - including football - were involved in an institutional conspiracy to conceal positive drug tests.

Russia has rejected allegations it has run a state-sponsored doping programme and elaborately covered up its athletes' positive tests at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics.

The country's athletics federation, its anti-doping agency RUSADA and its Paralympic committee remain suspended over doping allegations. 

… we have a small favor to ask.

As you may have heard, The Moscow Times, an independent news source for over 30 years, has been unjustly branded as a "foreign agent" by the Russian government. This blatant attempt to silence our voice is a direct assault on the integrity of journalism and the values we hold dear.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. Our commitment to providing accurate and unbiased reporting on Russia remains unshaken. But we need your help to continue our critical mission.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just 2. It's quick to set up, and you can be confident that you're making a significant impact every month by supporting open, independent journalism. Thank you.

Continue

Read more