FIFA to consult WADA on Russia's doping abuse

The International Federation of Football Associations (FIFA) will ask for the information from the World Anti-Doping Agencys (WADA) Independent Commission about the alleged widespread doping abuse in Russian sports, the global football body has said.

WADA Independent Commission Chairman Richard McLaren stated on Friday that an unprecedented system to cover up doping abuse cases of athletes has been in effect in Russia over the recent years, reports Tass.

According to the report, over 1,000 Russian athletes competing in summer, winter and Paralympic sports could have been involved in manipulating the system to conceal positive doping tests.

"FIFA will request from WADA all details and evidence concerning the individual cases of doping in Russian football that are referenced in Prof. McClaren's investigation," FIFA's statement said on Saturday.

"Once FIFA receives this information from WADA, it will take the appropriate next steps," the global football organisation added ahead of the upcoming Confederations Cup.

The 2017 Confederations Cup will be held next year between June 17 and July 1 at four stadiums in Russia. They are Otkritie Arena in Moscow, St. Petersburg Arena, Fisht in Sochi, and Kazan Arena in Kazan city.

Russia is currently in full-swing preparations for hosting the Confederations Cup and the 2018 World Cup.

The country selected 11 host cities to be the venues for the matches of the World Cup and they are Moscow, St. Petersburg, Sochi, Kazan, Saransk, Kaliningrad, Volgograd, Rostov-on-Don, Nizhny Novgorod, Yekaterinburg and Samara.

The matches of the World Cup will be held between June 14 and July 15 at 12 stadiums located in the 11 cities across Russia. Two of the stadiums are located in the Russian capital.

--IANS

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