Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger: 'UEFA basically accepts doping'

By Danielle Joynson, Staff Reporter | 24 November 2015

Arsene Wenger suggests that UEFA 'accepts doping' due to its decision not to scrap Dinamo Zagreb's win over Arsenal after one of their players failed a drugs test.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has suggested that UEFA 'basically accepts doping' due to its current rules relating to players found guilty of taking performance-enhancing drugs.

Dinamo Zagreb player Arijan Adem was banned for four years after failing a drugs test following September's 2-1 win over Arsenal in the Champions League.

Wenger, who was visited by 10 doping officers for a random drugs test on his players at the club's London Colney training ground last week, has criticised the European governing body for allowing Dinamo's result against Arsenal to stand.

"I said that before that I want better controls, and we got better controls straight away," Wenger told reporters. "We had 10 people on Friday to control us. I don't remember we have been controlled before. We have nothing against it."

The current rule states that a result will only be questioned should two or more players be found guilty of doping.

"It doesn't look logical, especially if you [test] only three players. It's a surprising rule. UEFA applies the rule that is planned but I personally don't agree with the rule. You cannot say that they had a doped player but the result stands. That means you basically accept doping."

Illegal drug-taking in athletics has been a major talking point in recent weeks following allegations that there is widespread doping and cover-ups within the Russian Federation.