FIFA revokes Bulgaria player suspension

Sofia: FIFA revoked the provisional suspension of Bulgarian international Yordan Minev on Thursday only hours after announcing the defender failed a dope test at a World Cup qualifier away to Malta this month.

World soccer`s ruling body said the chairman of its disciplinary committee made the U-turn "following clarification by medical bodies." "It appears that there is no circumstantial evidence that anti-doping rules have been violated," FIFA added. The earlier statement had spoken of "an adverse analytical finding" from the doping control after the September 10 game, which Bulgaria won 2-1, with the player suspended for 30 days. FIFA did not divulge the player`s identity, or name any substance, but Minev confirmed to reporters outside the Bulgarian Football Union headquarters that he was the one involved. "It`s a shock for me, it was like they told me I`m pregnant because I never took even a pill in my career," he said. "I only had a painkilling injection and the doctor described everything in the documentation before the doping test following the match against Malta. I have not done anything wrong and I hope that I will continue playing." Bulgaria are second in European Group B with 13 points from eight games, seven behind Italy who have already guaranteed first place and qualified. Reuters