Eleven footballers of Russia’s Rostov FC clear dope test: FIFA

Zurich, May 19 (IANS) Doping samples collected last week from all 11 players of Russia’s Rostov football club have tested negative, world football governing body FIFA has said.

Following Rostov’s match against Dinamo Moscow FC on May 12 in a 3-1 win, all 11 players from Russia’s southern football club were summoned for doping tests. FIFA disclosed the test results in a statement on Wednesday, reports Tass.

Head of FIFA's medical department Jiri Dvorak earlier said the doping examination followed information that Rostov FC had acquired large quantities of banned performance enhancing drug Meldonium.

The drug was included in the list of preparations banned by the World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) from January 1, 2016. The presence of the meldonium substance in the athlete’s blood during and between competitions is a violation of anti-doping rules. The substance belongs to S4 class on the WADA blacklist (hormones and metabolic modulators).

The drug is a cardiovascular preparation freely available for purchase at pharmacies across Russia without a doctor’s prescription.