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[Shiggy]

Russia is at the centre of another doping scandal after it emerged the country’s entire 23-man squad from the 2014 World Cup is being investigated by Fifa over possible drugs offences. Russia is currently hosting the Confederations Cup and in under a year will stage the World Cup but these allegations are likely to throw its suitability to stage such events into serious doubt.

The 23-man squad, who were knocked out in the group stages of the Brazil World Cup three years ago, are among 34 Russian footballers being investigated by football’s world governing body. Five of the 23 players tested in 2014 are members of the squad that was knocked out of the Confederations Cup on Saturday.

The state-sponsored doping and cover-up in Russia are well known but this is the first time top-level footballers in the country have been placed under investigation, although there is no proof of any anti-doping violations. However, a report by the Mail On Sunday alleged the footballers were among 1,000 “people of interest” to the officials charged with establishing where the tentacles of Russia’s doping racket extended.

A Fifa spokesman told the Mail On Sunday: “Fifa is still investigating the allegations made against [Russian] football players.”

It is understood Fifa is in possession of detailed evidence and intelligence. It is likely to face pressure to act on whatever evidence it has. Dick Pound, a former head of the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada), told the Mail On Sunday: “There is a huge onus on Fifa to reach a sensible conclusion on these matters before the World Cup takes place. It is incumbent on them to say what steps they are taking, what they find, and take whatever action necessary to protect the integrity of sport. Even within a governing body with as little credibility remaining as Fifa, if you were a senior official you wouldn’t want to be part of a body that ignores this.

“There has been an institutional denial of doping in football for years … I’ve seen too many presentations by Fifa, straight out of fantasy land, about how they don’t have a problem. They absolutely have to take this case seriously.”

The new allegations follow the publication of two reports commissioned by Wada and authored by the Canadian lawyer Richard McLaren. It found at least 1,000 people were assisted by what McLaren described as an “institutionalised manipulation of the doping control process in Russia”.

More than 200 of those are thought to have competed in athletics with 13 other sports having competitors in at least double figures being implicated and several cases in other sports.

https://www.theguardian.com/footbal...014-world-cup-squad-fifa-doping-investigation

 

[Escape Goat]

Soccer, Russia and Fifa were a mistake.

 

[nacimento]

Must be embarassing to dope yourself up and then still crash and burn like they did in 2014.

 

[Firemind]

Just banish the 2018 WC already.

 

[azyless]

Wasn't enough to rank above Algeria in the group stage.

 

[His Majesty]

Slutsky was definitely on drugs

 

[Billy_Pilgrim]

I'm absolutely sick to death of Russia fucking with everything for the sake of chaos and losing in the end anyway.

 

[Jamiaro]

Wow, REALLY? Russia, cheating? Wow, never saw that coming...

 

[Cookie18]

And they will still host the next one? Jesus.

 

[Xando]

Why dope when you still play like shit

 

[C4Lukins]

Soccer outside of maybe hockey, seems like the sport you would least benefit from doping in a major sport.

 

[ReplacementPelican]

Why dope when you still play like shit

Yeah, I mean, they couldn't even get out of an easier group (sans Belgium). Scored two goals, didn't win a single game.

If you're going to cheat, at least try and achieve something.

Soccer outside of maybe hockey, seems like the sport you would least benefit from doping in a major sport.

What? It helps with endurance and soccer is a sport where you have to run around for 45 minutes straight, rest for 15 minutes and do the same again.

What's your logic here?

 

[Billy_Pilgrim]

Soccer outside of maybe hockey, seems like the sport you would least benefit from doping in a major sport.

You'd think that but Pep/fuentes era Barca/spain proves otherwise.

 

[sam777]

You'd think that but Pep/fuentes era Barca/spain proves otherwise.

Pls explain

 

[Sidewinder]

And they will still host the next one? Jesus.

Of course, it's too late now and FIFA don't care anyway.

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

 

[Skellig Gra]

You don't win in football/soccer by being the most physically fit or else the US would win a lot more. Dumb move, especially by the couple players would play in top tier leagues.

 

[Man-is-Obsolete]

True patriots.

 

[spekkeh]

I want to say this is funny, but nothing is as funny as getting admonished by a man called Dick Pound.

 

[Nuzzle]

Pls explain

Iirc the lists found at Fuentes hinted at several top football players in spanish clubs.
Testing for doping in football is made to satisfy the masses, not actually pop anyone.

It's pure PR. They all saw what happened to cycling with all the scandals.

 

[kottila]

Soccer outside of maybe hockey, seems like the sport you would least benefit from doping in a major sport.

yeah. Why on earth would increased restitution, the ability to tolerate more training, higher speed, stronger bodies and more endurance be of help in an extremely close competitive sport

 

[Nuzzle]

yeah. Why on earth would increased restitution, the ability to tolerate more training, higher speed, stronger bodies and more endurance be of help in an extremely close competitive sport

This.

The thing people are not factoring in, is injuries.
With a good doctor and doping program, a club can get much more value out of the players.

 

[Ertai]

What? It helps with endurance and soccer is a sport where you have to run around for 45 minutes straight, rest for 15 minutes and do the same again.

What's your logic here?

It doesnt make you pass better, move smarter on the field and doesnt grant better ability to read your opponents strategy. It doesnt improve you on a technical level. Which based on their performance is self evident

 

[weekev]

So potentially the outcome of this is Russia being banned from the 2018 World Cup? Where's that being held again?

 

[lightskintwin]

You don't win in football/soccer by being the most physically fit or else the US would win a lot more. Dumb move, especially by the couple players would play in top tier leagues.

What? LOL The problem with American Soccer is our best athletes don't play the sport.

 

[Imperfected]

I know it's been said already, but Christ. Buy better dope, Russia.

 

[Ertai]

What? LOL The problem with American Soccer is our best athletes don't play the sport.

Lol, no it isn't. Having the best athletes in the world isn't an auto win. It helps, sure. But there's a whole lot more wrong with your approach to the sport than just not having your best athletes play it

 

[lightskintwin]

Lol, no it isn't. Having the best athletes in the world isn't an auto win. It helps, sure. But there's a whole lot more wrong with your approach to the sport than just not having your best athletes play it

Did I say it was an auto win? Man, some of ya'll can't help to make strawman arguments. Be lucky, America doesn't allocate the same amount of resources and recruitment in training and attracting top American athletes to play the sport as they do for other sports.