CSKA Moscow defenders fail drug tests

Sergei Ignashevich and Alexei Berezutsky of the CSKA Moscow have been handed over a suspension from a Group B Champions League match against Besiktas over a doping offence, according to a disclosure made by the Russian club and Uefa.

The defenders tested positive to a banned substance after the Champions League match against Manchester United at Old Trafford.

From Guardian.co.uk:

"Both players' A samples revealed the presence of a prohibited substance under the category 'S6. Stimulants' from the Wada [World Anti-Doping Agency] Prohibited List 2009," Uefa reported. The two players have been provisionally suspended until the case is heard by the European governing body's disciplinary committee on 17 December, the statement added.

CSKA said the pair had been the victims of a procedural error by the club's medical staff. "Our medical staff had made a technical error, failing to disclose cold medicine Sudafed during a doping test on 3 November in Manchester," the club said. The drug taken by Ignashevich and Berezutsky had not been on a banned list but still needed to be disclosed.

CSKA stands to qualify for the last 16 of the Champions League only if they prove to be a better team than German champions Wolfsburg, who play Manchester United in the other Group B match.