Fifa announce no positive tests during tournament despite Russia claims
Russia's impressive World Cup run was questioned with disbelief and suspicion in the wake of a doping scandal.
FIFA have announced there were no positive tests during the World Cup despite claims.
Russia's extraordinary World Cup run was questioned with disbelief and suspicion in the wake of a doping scandal.
Since January, a total of 2,037 tests have been conducted to ensure the World Cup was clean.
Every participating player was tested in unannounced controls before and during the tournament.
The host nation was cleared of doping by FIFA ahead of the event because there was “insufficient” evidence to prosecute any of the 23-man squad.
Fifa said: “As the 2018 Fifa World Cup draws to a close, Fifa can today announce that, so far, the analyses of all doping tests conducted before and during the competition have yielded negative results.
“The testing programme in place this year was the largest ever conducted for a FIFA World Cup.”
It's been reported that on average every player from the four remaining teams - France, Croatia, England and Belgium - has been tested four times since January, including some tested up to eight times.
No player has failed a drugs test during the World Cup since Diego Maradona in 1994.
The World Cup in 1994 took place in the United States and Maradona had played just two games for Argentina, scoring one goal against Greece.
He was then sent home after failing a drug test for ephedrine doping.
MOST READ IN FOOTBALL
A claim he later argued saying that the test result was due to his personal trainer giving him the power drink Rip Fuel.
The governing body confirmed all samples would be stored for ten years for retesting.