Bundesliga to introduce blood testing following German football doping revelations

Johannesburg: German football league Bundesliga is reportedly planning to start using blood testing this season although it has no indication that doping is a factor in football.

According to Sport24, Bundesliga`s plans comes in the wake of a study on doping, which has sparked a debate in Germany on the problem, with calls growing for a federal anti-doping law and to publish the full report, with all the names. The report further said that FIFA `s medical officer at the time is quoted in the study as saying that three players showed `fine traces` of ephedrine, a banned stimulant, after West Germany lost the 1966 World Cup final to host England. However, German Football Federation president Wolfgang Niersbach said that the Bundesliga decision was made before the study was published, with German Football League managing director Andreas Rettig saying that the league wants `stricter controls` although it has `no indication` of doping. The report however, said that the tests would not be ready in time for the start of the season this weekend as the federation (DFB) and the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) are still working on a contract for the tests, to be conducted by NADA. Blood testing for banned substances has been used in many major sports for years, the report added. ANI