Olic escapes drugs ban

Croatia striker Ivica Olic has escaped punishment after testing positive for a banned substance at Euro 2004.

The player tested positive for methylpresnisolone after Thursday’s 2-2 draw with France in group B, in which he appeared as a 73rd-minute substitute.

However, UEFA’s control and disciplinary body have decided that the player was not to blame for the offence, meaning he is now available for selection for tomorrow’s match against England.

However, the governing body have chosen to fine the Croatian Football Federation €6,600 for failing to follow the correct procedures set by the anti-doping authorities.

In addition, Zoran Bahtijarevic, the doctor responsible for anti-doping matters within the federation, received a warning and his colleague, Boris Nemec, the doctor treating Olic, a reprimand.

Olic suffered a rib injury in a friendly against Denmark on June 5 and two days later was given a pain blocker which included methylpresnisolone.

However, the UEFA control and disciplinary body reported that the two doctors failed to complete and submit the necessary Therapeutic Use Exemption form (TUE) to UEFA.

This would have been deemed acceptable had it been submitted.

The Croatian doctors and the representative of the Croatian Football Federation, who all spoke at today’s hearing, acknowledged the facts and assumed their responsibility.

A UEFA spokesman explained on Sky Sports News: “Methylpresnisolone is a pain blocker – this is simply a case of the correct people not being informed.

“We would have accepted it if we’d been informed – unfortunately we weren’t because something went wrong with the administration and there was a mix-up between the Croatian doctor and the doctor treating the player.

“It was the doctor’s duty to inform the Croatian FA doctor – and that’s why they’ve been fined and warned rather than the player.”