Arsenal vs Dinamo Zagreb - Arsenal and Dinamo Zagreb clash on doping

Posted Tuesday, November 24, 2015 by PA

Arsene Wenger has called on UEFA to change its rules on drug cheats ahead of Arsenal's Champions League clash with Dinamo Zagreb, but opposite number Zoran Mamic believes there is no issue to be concerned with.

Dinamo midfielder Arijan Ademi was handed a four-year ban for failing a drugs test after the Croatian side beat Wenger's men in their opening clash in Group F.

Mamic's team won 2-1 in Zagreb and now Arsenal face them again at the Emirates Stadium knowing they must secure victory to stand any chance of getting out of their group - although even three points will be in vain if Olympiacos avoid defeat against Bayern Munich.

Wenger has been outspoken against doping and questioned why UEFA rules mean there is no way of disqualifying a team from continental competition unless more than two players fail a test.

The rule corresponds to the World Anti-Doping Agency's regulations but, asked if he found it strange, Wenger said: "Yes, of course. 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. But it is the rule and we accept that. We have to look at ourselves and deal with our own performance."

Zagreb coach Mamic - whose side must win and hope Olympiacos beat Bayern to stand any chance of finishing in the top two - hit back at Wenger in his press conference on Monday.

He said: "Mr Wenger can think and talk about what he wants but there are other people who make decisions about that and that will be in the future.

"I can suggest him to write the rules for UEFA. I think this situation is not the point of this press conference so we don't need to talk about Ademi.

"I don't think there is a problem with doping in football. There are cases in football but they are rare. What I know is going on - what I read - football is quite a clean sport."

Wenger's comments brought a response from UEFA, pointing to the relevant section of the WADA code and the governing body's use of blood tests in addition to urine tests.

UEFA spokesman Pedro Pinto said in a statement released to Press Association Sport: "UEFA's anti-doping regulations regarding the consequences for teams for doping offences are strictly in accordance with article 11 of the WADA code that states that 'where more than one team member in a team sport has been notified of a possible anti-doping rule violation, the team shall be subject to target testing for the event.

"If more than two team members in a team sport are found to have committed an anti-doping rule violation during the event, the team may be subject to disqualification or other disciplinary action'.

"Blood testing is a key part of UEFA's anti-doping arsenal. UEFA has in fact been blood testing since 2008. In the 2014-2015 season, UEFA carried out 2,318 tests - 2,024 urine tests and 294 blood tests."

On the field, Arsenal welcome back Aaron Ramsey from a hamstring problem but Mikel Arteta (calf), Francis Coquelin (knee), Theo Walcott (calf), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (hamstring), Jack Wilshere (leg), Danny Welbeck and Tomas Rosicky (both knee) are all absent.