Russia’s hosting of the 2018 World Cup and FIFA’s "uncritical stance on the nation’s state doping scam have come under fresh fire" from anti-doping expert Dick Pound, according to Harris & Draper of the London DAILY MAIL. Pound, the former head of WADA, accused FIFA of "failing to do enough to investigate Russian drug cheating in football." He said, "FIFA has been sublimely reluctant to do anything about the situation." FIFA and WADA have reportedly begun to openly "blame each other for lack of progress on cases involving alleged Russian footballer cheats." Pound said that the credibility of the 2018 World Cup "will be in doubt if FIFA cannot properly investigate evidence that the Russian national football teams were part of the national doping scandal" which has seen Russia banned from PyeongChang 2018. With FIFA and WADA "engaged in a turf war over who has responsibility to clear up the mess -- with months more stalemate apparently ahead" -- Pound called on FIFA to take "much swifter action." He said, "There’s absolutely no reason on the face of the planet that it should take months. They have the data. It’s quite simple to determine whether or not you have a case of doping if you want to" (DAILY MAIL, 12/17).
PRICE GOUGING: In London, Andy Lines reported World Cup fans "are being ripped off by hotels in Russia hiking prices to 35 times their usual levels" during the tournament. Three Lions fans going to Volgograd for the game against Tunisia on June 18 "are being targeted by greedy bosses." The Gallery Park Volgograd Hotel is reportedly charging £703 ($941) in June for a "standard twin room" that would cost just £20.30 ($27.19) now. The presidential suite at the same hotel is currently going for £76.70 ($102.72) a night -- but "soars" to £1,654 ($2,215) when 10,000 England fans "are due to arrive in the city" for the game. A probe was launched by the Russian Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection (DAILY MIRROR, 12/17).
