FIFA says World Cup is free of drugs after more than 450 tests

2010 World Cup free of doping so far

JOHANNESBURG — The 2010 World Cup so far is the fourth consecutive tournament free of doping.

More than 450 players have been tested during the World Cup, including almost 200 match-day checks. FIFA chief medical officer Jiri Dvorak said Sunday that no positive results were found, meaning the 2010 tournament is following the example of previous editions in 1998, 2002 and 2006.

The number of injuries per match has also dropped from a high of 2.7 in 2002 to 2.0 so far this year, according to FIFA statistics. In Germany 2006, there were 2.3 injuries per match.

Dvorak said the reduction was due to better preparation of players and the improved knowledge of team doctors and medical staff.

“We hope this trend is going to continue in the future,” Dvorak said. “Our objective is to go to less than two injuries per match.”

Dvorak, a neurologist, said he was particularly pleased to see referees clamping down on the use of elbows to prevent head and neck injuries.

The crackdown was in evidence when France’s Yoann Gourcuff was sent off against South Africa for hitting Macbeth Sibaya with an elbow as the two went for a ball in the box during the teams’ final group match.

“The elbow to the head has to be punished by a red card,” Dvorak said. “The referees are being very strict on this.”