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UEFA deny drug taking is at a "significant level" in football

UEFA has hit back at claims that the use of drugs is significantly high in football. The st...



UEFA deny drug taking is at a...
Soccer

UEFA deny drug taking is at a "significant level" in football

UEFA has hit back at claims that the use of drugs is significantly high in football.

The statement issued by UEFA is a reponse to a report in the Sunday Times, which found high testosterone levels in almost 8% of 879 players who were tested.

The "lack of standardisation" in the testing process is reason enough for UEFA to claim there is no "scientific evidence" of such drug taking in the sport.

The statement released by EUFA said, "This study does not present any scientific evidence of potential doping in football especially due to the presence of confounding factors, the lack of standardisation procedures among the 12 laboratories and the quantification of steroid profiles when the samples were collected.

The players tested competed in the Europa League and Champions League between 2008 and 2013 and was carried out by scientists from 12 anti-doping agneices.

All samples were provided anonymously and so the players who posted atypical results can not be sanctioned.

The statement continued, "Furthermore, there was an inability to perform a second analysis [B sample] as required now by the WADA international standards for laboratories.

"The study simply shows that the introduction of steroidal biological passport in football would be beneficial by offering further analysis possibilities in case of atypical test results.

"UEFA has had a very thorough anti-doping programme for many years with over 2,000 tests a year and only two occurrence of positive tests, both for recreational drugs, which proves that doping in football is extremely rare.

"UEFA has now implemented a new steroid profiling programme which has come into operation at the start of the 2015-16 season.

"The programme will boost the already strong deterrent effect of UEFA's testing programme, as it will help better detect the effects of doping over time, thereby complementing existing direct anti-doping testing."

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