| No trip to Portugal this summer. |
The Court of Arbitration for Sport has dismissed Wales' appeal to win a late
entry to Euro 2004.
Wales wanted Russia thrown out of the European Championship after their
player Egor Titov failed a drugs test during their play-off win last year.
Wales' case was heard in Lausanne on Wednesday, but was initially held up
after Uefa challenged the right of the CAS to actually intervene.
Uefa had already rejected two appeals from the FAW to have Russia excluded.
"We had overcome the major hurdle of jurisdiction, but could not prove that
Russia were implicated in Titov taking the drug," said FAW Secretary General
David Collins.
"The drug had a huge effect with regard to performance and relieving the
tiredness that all players involved in the play-offs felt.
"It's disappointing to see that drugs cheating has prevailed."
Despite losing out, Collins said that he hoped the fact that the CAS's
jurisdiction had been established would have an effect on future cases.
"National associations will now have to look at their regulations with regard
to doping," he said.
"Hopefully Uefa and Fifa will take this case into consideration." |
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