November 18 – So now we know. After delaying a ruling in a mysterious disciplinary case involving CSKA Moscow and Finland midfielder Roman Eremenko, UEFA have banned him for two years after he tested positive for cocaine.
The Finnish football federation withdrew Eremenko from its squad just hours before last month’s world cup qualifier in Iceland saying he had been suspended for a month ahead of a UEFA hearing but without giving any details.
In its ruling today UEFA said traces of cocaine were found in a sample Eremenko gave after playing for CSKA in a Champions League game against Bayer Leverkusen in September. The result of that game, a 2-2 draw, will not be affected.
The two-year ban is backdated to October 6, the date Eremenko was provisionally suspended.
Born in Moscow, the 29-year-old grew up in Finland and has represented the country 73 times. He won the Russian league title with CSKA last season and the Ukrainian title with Dynamo Kiev in 2009.
UEFA said its decision may be appealed against within three days of receipt of the written reasoning.
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1715107947labto1715107947ofdlr1715107947owedi1715107947sni@w1715107947ahsra1715107947w.wer1715107947dna1715107947