Wales ponder appeal over Titov ban
CARDIFF, Wales -- Wales are considering whether to appeal against the result of their Euro 2004 playoff against Russia after Yegor Titov was banned for failing a drugs test.
Russian midfielder Titov was suspended for 12 months by ruling body UEFA on Friday after testing positive for the banned stimulant bromantan following the goalless first leg of the acrimonious playoff in Moscow last November.
Titov did not play in the first leg but was on the pitch for 59 minutes of the second leg in Cardiff which Russia won 1-0.
The Football Association of Wales said on its official website it was considering whether to lodge an appeal. "We'll contact UEFA on Monday and check if any sanctions will be imposed," said an FAW spokesman.
The club announced on Saturday that he would appeal against the verdict.
"The whole Russian squad was tested ahead of playoffs on November 11 and all the results were negative. It was not clear how traces of bromantan turned out to be in Titov's body on November 15," Spartak said in a statement posted on its official web site.
Spartak said Titov was prescribed the medication remontadin by a team doctor to cure a cold. The club believe the drug contained bromantan, as only a small amount of the remains of a product of similar properties was found.
Taking into consideration that bromantan was not on a list of banned substances until September 2003, Titov and the club will file an appeal to UEFA headquarters through the Russian Soccer Union on Monday.
