FIFA declares 2018 World Cup 'clean' of doping
On July 12 (European time), FIFA announced that no cases of doping were detected despite the 2018 World Cup being tested on an unprecedented scale.
More than 1,500 players were tested for doping at the 2018 World Cup. Photo: REUTERS
"The analysis results of all doping test samples before and during the 2018 World Cup did not detect any banned substances," FIFA announced.
The 2018 World Cup doping testing program has been described as "the largest ever conducted at a World Cup" and has involved more than 1,500 players who FIFA considers likely to be involved in matches from qualifying to the 2018 World Cup final.
Accordingly, every player appearing at the World Cup is required to undergo a doping test before the tournament and then other tests are conducted randomly in number, without prior notice, after the match or on any day when there is no match.
FIFA said that for the players of the four teams that reached the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup, each person had to undergo an average of 4.41 doping tests since January 2018, with some having to undergo up to 8 tests.
All these samples were sent to WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) accredited laboratories outside Russia for analysis.
At the same time, FIFA also denied information accusing some Russian host players of using banned substances during preparations for the 2018 World Cup.
This is also a move by FIFA to "reassure" public opinion because Russian sports (host of the 2018 World Cup) has just experienced a doping scandal that shook the world with more than 1,000 athletes involved in doping during the period 2011-2015.
