Wales lodge fresh appeal with UEFA
LONDON, England (Reuters) -- Wales are to appeal again to UEFA after failing to have Russia removed from the finals of Euro 2004 because of Yegor Titov's failed drug test.
The Football Association of Wales said it would contest the decision by European soccer's governing body not to uphold their complaint.
Titov has been suspended from all competitive matches for a year after testing positive for a banned stimulant following the first leg of the playoff between the two countries in November.
That match finished goalless but Russia won the second leg 1-0 a week later in Cardiff to qualify for the tournament in Portugal.
The FAW said Wales should have been given a retroactive 3-0 win and a place at the tournament starting in June because Titov, an unused substitute in the first leg, should not have been eligible to play.
UEFA said on Tuesday in turning down Wales's complaint that any punishment for a doping offence applied to the individual player and not to the whole team.
"The FAW await a hearing date from UEFA. Meanwhile, they continue to work on the appeal with their medical and legal team, which includes a London QC," the FAW said in a statement.
UEFA confirmed they have received the appeal from the FAW and said a date for a hearing will be set next week.
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