Doping: UEFA to carry out blood tests in all its competitions

UEFA (Union of European Football Associations) have decided that players will undergo anti-doping blood tests in all European competitions starting from 2013/14, European football's governing body announced on the 02/07/2013.

Until now UEFA has only conducted blood tests at international tournaments: Euro 2008 (Switzerland and Austria) and 2012 (Poland and Ukraine).

Checks will be made in and out of competition and players may be asked at doping controls to give urine samples, blood samples or both.

Anti-doping regulations

• The 2013 edition came into force on the 01/07/2013, for the 2013/14 season
• The main change is the addition of a clause which details the procedure when individual players are tested out-of-competition away from team activities. This will take place when players and/or their teams have committed several violations, regarding their whereabouts.

Testing in 2012/13:

• 1,374 tests were taken in the main European club competitions such as the Champions League and Europa League
• No players tested positive
• 407 tests in other competitons
• Full testing during the…