Row over French drug tests

Alan Nixon
Friday 21 November 2003 01:00 GMT
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The Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo and Tottenham's Helder Postiga have been caught up in a drugs test refusal row.

The two Portuguese Under-21 internationals were targeted by France's anti-doping agency when the countries met in midweek. But the Portuguese would not allow the two players to be put forward for this "random" test - and they have now been reported to the French Federation, as well as Uefa, European football's governing body.

The Portuguese argued that the French were outside their jurisdiction by asking for samples from their players. Uefa have also said that they did not recognise the proposed tests. The French Ministry of Sportmay now take the matter up with Fifa.

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