Russia clear to compete in Euro 2020 meaning Wales fans may face St Petersburg
Wales fans could still face gruelling trip to St Petersburg to face Russia after they were CLEARED to compete in Euro 2020 even if four-year sport events ban is imposed
- Investigators from the World Anti-Doping Agency found inconsistencies in data
- WADA’s independent review committee recommends Russia be barred
- But Euro 2020 will not be affected even if proposed sanctions are backed
- That means Wales fans will still have to travel if they go into Pool B of the Euros
Wales supporters will still have to travel to St Petersburg if Ryan Giggs’ team draw under-fire Russia at Euro 2020 next summer.
Russia will be able to compete in the tournament even if a four-year ban from sporting events comes into effect in the midst of a doping scandal that has rocked athletics in the country.
That means if Wales go into Pool B of the Euros this Saturday, when the draw is made in Bucharest, they will face Russia in St Petersburg, Denmark in Copenhagen and top seeds Belgium at one of those host cities.
Russia will be able to compete in Euro 2020 next summer even if a four-year ban activates
Wales supporters will still have to travel to St Petersburg if Ryan Giggs’ team draw Russia
Investigators from the World Anti-Doping Agency found inconsistencies in laboratory data obtained from the Russian anti-doping agency in January and WADA’s independent compliance review committee is recommending Russia be barred from hosting and competing in major international events for four years.
However, the PA news agency understands next summer’s football European Championship – which Russia have qualified for and where St Petersburg will serve as one of 12 host cities – will not be affected even if WADA’s executive committee and the Court of Arbitration back the proposed sanctions.
That is because the International Standard for Code Compliance by Signatories (ISCCS) which sets out the rules on anti-doping breaches does not define UEFA as a ‘Major Event Organisation’.
The definition states that Major Event Organisations are ‘continental associations of National Olympic Committees and other international multisport organisations that function as the ruling body for any continental, regional or other international event’.
A WADA panel has called for Russian athletes to be banned from competing for four years
Because UEFA is only concerned with a single sport, it is not covered.
The shock news even reportedly put the Welsh FA on red alert in regards to tge possibility of the Principality Stadium replacing St Petersburg as one of UEFA’s 12 host cities
Russia does however face being barred from the Olympic and Paralympic summer and winter Games of 2020 and 2022, although individual athletes will be able to compete independently ‘where they are able to demonstrate that they are not implicated in any way by the…
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