By Andrew Warshaw in Belo Horizonte
June 24 – FIFA medical executives have hit back over Costa Rica’s protests about dope tests on its players as the row continued to simmer on the eve of the tournament’s surprise package playing its final Group D tie against England here tomorrow.
Ticos’ coach Jorge Luis Pinto’s federation wrote to FIFA demanding an explanation after an additional five of the squad’s players were tested after their 1-0 win over Italy in Recife.
But Jiri Dvorak, FIFA’s chief medical officer, said today that Spanish and Portuguese players had also been subjected to the same testing and had not let it worry them: “If we do not do this we are not fulfilling our duties and then questions would be asked,” he said.
“We explained to the team managers and physicians what we were doing but, of course, it has to be done unannounced.
“It’s not the most pleasant work but, in general, all the teams are absolutely co-operative including the Spanish team. It’s not easy to lose and then have seven players taken for doping controls but they didn’t have any complaints.”
Dvorak was supported by Michel D’Hooghe, Belgium’s FIFA executive member who chairs the organisation’s medical committee.
“We don’t have to excuse ourselves for doing our job. Professor Dvorak informed the team doctor of Costa Rica about what we do but don’t ask us to excuse ourselves for making a good doping control,” he said.
Pinto was holding his pre-match press conference at virtually exactly the same time as Dvorak and d’Hooghe were addressing FIFA’s daily briefing in Rio. He was still not happy.
“We feel uncomfortable. It was not done tactfully,” said Pinto. “Public opinion ended up thinking that FIFA feared something. Fine to do anti-doping controls but don’t give the idea that there is something amiss. Were they just thinking we ran too fast? We are very well prepared. I’d like to see Brazil subjected to the same thing.”
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