Confederations Cup players were drug free: FIFA

July 8, 2009

JOHANNESBURG (AFP) – Drug tests conducted on teams who participated in the Confederations Cup, a curtain-raiser for next year’s World Cup came out negative, said football’s world governing body FIFA in a statement on Tuesday.

“A total of 131 urine and blood tests were conducted as part of the testing programme,” said the statement.

It said FIFA doping control officers visited all eight participating teams and performed unannounced out of competition tests two months before the competition.

Eight players per team were drawn, which meant that a total of 64 players were tested out of competition .

FIFA Medical officer, Professor Jiri Dvorak said:”Some players were surprised when we woke them up at 7am, but the cooperation of all teams was excellent.”

During the tournament held from June 14 to June 28, two players a team were randomly selected for doping control at all 16 matches.

“All the usual prohibited substances and methods were searched for in the urine and blood tests, including stimulants, anabolic steroids, diuretics and erythropoietin,” Fifa said.

FIFA was “satisfied” with the teams’ co-operation and the smooth running of the analyses at the South African Doping Control Laboratory in Bloemfontein.

“The results of the testing programme show that high performances are possible in top-level football without the use of prohibited substances or methods.”

Since 1994 about 6,483 doping tests have been performed in FIFA final competitions and only three players have tested positive for a prohibited substance doping tests, said the statement.

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