Rope-a-dope: Man Utd, Jones and Blind all fined over Europa League final drug testing row

August 1 – Manchester United have been charged with breaching anti-doping regulations following the Europa League final against Ajax in May with two of the club’s international players also punished.

England’s Phil Jones  has received a two-game European ban as well as a €5,000 fine while the Netherlands’ Danny Blind has been fined the same amount and the club itself double that.

Jones, who is understood to have been verbally abusive towards a UEFA doping control officer after being upset at missing a post-match squad photograph, will be out of the Super Cup against Real Madrid next week as well as United’s first Champions League group-stage match in September.

Blind’s fine is for his reluctance to report immediately for a test because he wanted to celebrate with his teammates.

There is no suggestion that either player was guilty of doping, however. Jones was an unused substitute in the win over Ajax whilst Blind played the full 90 minutes.

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