ST PETERSBURG: Russian club Zenit St Petersburg has been cautioned by European federation UEFA after one of its players eluded doping control officers after the Europa League tie against Celtic in Glasgow writes KEIR RADNEDGE.

Zenit, of whom controversial Deputy Prime Minister Vitaly Mutko is a former president, lost 1-0 at Celtic Park on February 15 but ultimately won the tie 3-1.

Russia striker Dmitry Poloz went straight to the dressing rooms at the final whistle when he should have been escorted to the doping control sector by a UEFA officer.

The club said 26-year-old, who did not come off the subs’ bench to play in the match, had not realised he was wanted for a urine sample and, in any case, had been confused by the stadium layout.

A Zenit spokesman said: “UEFA has issued a warning to the club which we understand to be standard procedure when a doping control officer raises such issues after a game. “In this case, after he entered the dressing room, the club’s medical staff acted promptly so that he did not spend any time there and reported to the doping control staff.”

Poloz joined Zenit in 2012 from Rostov and has scored two goals in 15 appearances for the Russian national team since 2014. He was a member of the national team eliminated last year in the first round of the FIFA Confederations Cup.

Zenit were eliminated from the Europa League after losing their third round tie 3-2 on aggregate to RB Leipzig.

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