FIFA reports 0 doping cases in World Cup testing

MOSCOW: FIFA has reported no doping cases from almost 4,000 samples taken since January in a testing program for the World Cup finals. 

The last World Cup doping case involved Argentina great Diego Maradona at the 1994 tournament in the United States.

The 2018 testing program includes 626 samples taken during the competition, including two players from each squad drawn to give samples after games. A total of 108 of the samples were collected on non-match days.

Some players from the four teams still playing in Russia have been tested eight times this year, soccer's world body said.

Peru captain Paolo Guerrero almost missed the World Cup because of a doping suspension imposed in November after he failed a test during South American qualifying. He blamed his doping test failure on a tainted cup of tea at a Lima hotel. Helped by the captains of France, Australia and Denmark, Peru's group rivals in Russia, Guerrero campaigned to have the suspension lifted for the tournament.

Results included one positive test explained by the player having an approved medical exemption, FIFA says. Three more tests were "atypical findings" judged not to be positive tests.

World Cup-related doping tests since January have been analyzed at the World Anti-Doping Agency-accredited laboratory in Lausanne, Switzerland. Russia is still not authorized by WADA since a state-backed doping program was exposed after the 2014 Sochi Olympics.

FIFA also barred Russian staff from working in the collection and testing process.