Bundesliga introduces blood doping tests

PanARMENIAN.Net - The German Football League is to introduce blood doping tests when the league kicks off on August 9, according to espnfc.com.

The German Football League (DFL) and the German Football Association (DFB) will step up their fight against doping in football. Instead of the currently used urine samples, Bundesliga professionals will face blood tests after Bundesliga games.

"The agreement with Nationale Anti Doping Agentur (NADA) is about to be finalised," Rainer Koch, the chairman of DFB’s anti-doping commission, said. “It all developed very positively, the NADA will - in all probability - also carry out blood tests during training.”

However, only 15% of the doping tests will be blood tests, according to the report. NADA had carried out 2,144 urine samples during the 2012 calendar year, with 500 controls in training and 1,644 on match days.

"In conjunction with DFB the league has taken a stand for it," DFL general manager Andreas Rettig said. "Football subsists on the credibility of a thrilling competition. This credibility has to be protected."

Blood doping tests have already been carried out during the last two European Championship tournaments and in early July UEFA widened their blood doping test in the European club competitions.

Last season, all 1,374 doping tests – all of which were urine samples – carried out in the two club competitions were negative.