Eremenko given two-year doping ban

CSKA Moscow midfielder Roman Eremenko has been given a two-year ban by UEFA after failing a doping test.

The 29-year-old tested positive for cocaine and its metabolites following his side’s 2-2 Champions League draw against Bayer Leverkusen on September 14, in which he scored the equaliser.

Eremenko, who has been capped 73 times by Finland, can lodge an appeal against the decision.

In confirming the sanction, UEFA said: “The analysis of the A sample revealed the presence of cocaine and its metabolites, a stimulant that is classified under the category of prohibited substances in the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) 2016 Prohibited List under class S6, being prohibited in-competition. 

“The player was found guilty of being in breach of the UEFA Anti-Doping Regulations, Edition 2016. As a result, the UEFA Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body decided to impose a two-year ban on Roman Eremenko, starting from October 6, 2016 date of the provisional suspension.

“This decision may be appealed against within three days of receipt of the written reasoning.”

Eremenko’s suspension came to light after Finland’s football federation pulled him out of the national squad in October, stating that he had been given a one-month ban by UEFA.

European football’s governing body did not specify any details around the suspension at the time but stated on Tuesday that a decision on the player’s case would be made this week.

Vitaly Mutko, the head of Russia’s football federation, told Tass last Sunday that “Eremenko’s problems with UEFA are not related to doping and not even to football.

“Neither the club nor the league are guilty of anything. It’s a private matter for the player.”

Eremenko is the second Champions League player to have been given a suspension as a result of a failed doping test in the past year.

Dinamo Zagreb midfielder Arijan Ademi is appealing to the Court of Arbitration for Sport after being hit with a four-year ban by UEFA, after he tested positive for the anabolic steroid stanozolol following their 2-1 win over Arsenal in September 2015.