NYON (Switzerland): UEFA have thrown out a protest by Fenerbahce, who complained that Champions League opponents Shakhtar Donetsk fielded Fred in last week’s tie despite allegations of a doping offence against the Brazilian midfielder.

“The protest has been dismissed,” a UEFA spokesman said on Tuesday.

Shakhtar Donetsk coach Mircea Lucescu selected Fred for the third qualifying round first leg in Istanbul last Tuesday, which ended 0-0, while admitting the club had been advised by UEFA not to include him.

On Friday, the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) confirmed that Fred had tested positive for the masking agent hydrochlorothiazide during the Copa America in Chile.

The South American Football Confederation (CONM­EBOL) has not yet announced any sanctions against the player or commented on the case. UEFA said Fred had not been suspended by CONMEBOL when the first leg was played.

Lucescu admitted he had been made aware of the possible doping violation but felt Fred was free to play as the club had yet to be issued with formal notification of any suspension. The second leg is in Lviv on Wednesday.

Fred played in Brazil’s opening two fixtures at the June-July Copa America against Peru and Colombia but was dropped for the final group game against Venezuela and quarter-final defeat to Paraguay.

The CBF said in a statement that “we did not have this medicine available to us and it was not dispensed by the medical staff of the Brazilian national team”. However, the CBF said they were “supportive” of the player.

LEGIA DECLARED WINNERS AFTER EUROPA LEAGUE TROUBLE

Meanwhile, UEFA awarded Polish side Legia Warsaw a 3-0 win over Kukesi after last week’s Europa League qualifier in Albania was abandoned early in the second half following crowd trouble.

Kukesi were also ordered to play their next home match in European competition behind closed doors and fined 70,000 euros ($76,748) following last Thursday’s third round, first leg tie at Tirana’s Qemal Stafa stadium.

Legia’s Slovakian midfielder Ondrej Duda was struck by an object thrown from the crowd when the Polish side had scored to go 2-1 ahead early in the second half.

Legia said that Duda was left with “a one-inch hole” in his head, although he was back on his feet again a few minutes after the incident and returned to the field with a bandage around his head before play was abandoned in the 52nd minute.

UEFA said its disciplinary panel ordered Kukesi to default the match and listed the offences as setting off/throwing of fireworks and/or other objects, crowd disturbances and display of an “illicit banner.”

Kukesi will also have to play a second European match behind closed doors if they are involved in a similar incident at any time during the next two years, UEFA said. The second leg will go ahead as planned on Thursday.

Published in Dawn, August 5th, 2015

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