CSKA defenders suspended over medicine mix-up

Russian club CSKA Moscow said Tuesday two of their defenders have been suspended for the Champions League away match to Besiktas because of a “technical mistake” during a recent doping control.

CSKA confirmed that Sergei Ignashevich and Alexei Berezutsky will miss Tuesday’s match against the Turkish side in Istanbul after receiving a letter from UEFA’s disciplinary panel.

According to the report on CSKA’s website the team doctor failed to mention that both players had been taking ‘Sudafed’ medicine on a form during a doping control after the Champions’ League match at Manchester on November 3.

Sudafed, a cold and throat remedy, contains pseudoephedrine, a stimulant whose use by athletes has been monitored by the World Anti-Doping Agency since 2004. As of January 1, 2010, it will be back on WADA’s banned list.

CSKA claim UEFA suspended the two players because of the doctor’s mistake.

“Our team’s doctor admitted to a technical mistake during the dope testing after the Champions League match at Manchester,” the site said.

“He forgot to name the medication, which he was using for healing the players’ throat inflammation.

“Unfortunately UEFA decided to suspend our players before the disciplinary panel finalised its decision on the case.

“Nevertheless, we hope that UEFA disciplinary panel will discover the true reason for this accident and will work out a fair decision concerning our players.”