OREANDA-NEWS. A doping scandal flares up in Russian football. Three football players - two men and one woman - are suspected of using illegal drugs. The International Football Federation has already opened a case against our players and they face serious punishment.

The names of football players suspected of doping have become known. One of them is Vladimir Obukhov, a player of the Rostov club. As Vesti.Ru already reported, his case dates back to 2013, when he played for Spartak Moscow. As reported by "Championship", in a letter sent by FIFA to the RFU, it is said that in the doping test of Obukhov, taken in 2013 at the training camp of the Russian youth team, traces of the prohibited substance methandienone were found, and they tried to hide the result of this analysis. Obukhov faces four years' suspension from football.

Then it became known that the letter mentioned the defender of the Perm “Zvezda” Ivan Knyazev and the goalkeeper Daria Meshcheryakova.

The names of the footballers mentioned in the FIFA letter to the RFU General Secretary Alexander Alaev became known to the Championship.com.Three players were suspected of using prohibited substances in the fall of 2013.

The RFU noted that they are constantly in contact with FIFA on this issue and will provide the athletes with the necessary legal assistance.

Due to a series of doping scandals, Russian athletes have lost the right to compete under the national flag for two years - until December 16, 2022. The ban applies to all major international competitions, including the Tokyo and Beijing Olympics. And the Russian football team will remain without a flag at the World Cup in Qatar if it can reach the final stage.