The former chief medical officer at FIFA was "investigating the alleged Russian state doping of footballers when his work was abruptly terminated" in November last year, according to David Conn of the London GUARDIAN. Professor Jiri Dvorak, a "distinguished" doctor and consultant neurologist who worked on FIFA’s medical, anti-doping and injury-prevention programs for 22 years, "complained he was given no notice or explanation when the world game’s ruling body suddenly ended his employment." The termination of Dvorak's work was "among many departures" of FIFA staff after Infantino's election in Feb. '16 to succeed Sepp Blatter. Dvorak spoke of his concern that FIFA has "discontinued" some of the global programs he initiated as the head of FIFA’s medical assessment and research center, which "pioneered scientific research into health promotion and injury prevention." Reliable sources said that Dvorak "started to examine the allegations" contained in Richard McLaren’s report for WADA in July '16, which "first exposed the vast Russian doping of athletes and systematic cover-ups at the Moscow laboratory." That report included evidence that 11 footballers "were among the athletes doping" and alleged Russia’s program was orchestrated before London 2012 and Sochi 2014 (GUARDIAN, 12/20).
CASTING DOUBTS: In London, Jack Bezants reported FIFA said that it has "yet to decide whether GoalControl will be used in Russia at a second World Cup." FIFA's statement followed Ligue 1 "warning GoalControl in a meeting on Tuesday that the contract could be terminated at the end of the season." The French league said that it "wants improvements" after expressing "dissatisfaction with the failures" in several matches (DAILY MAIL, 12/19).
