Russia cut from its World Cup squad a player who faced a doping investigation.
The Russian Football Union said on Monday defender Ruslan Kambolov injured a calf muscle during a game for Rubin Kazan the day before. He was replaced by 38-year-old veteran Sergei Ignashevich, who has come out of international retirement.
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The RFU said coaches dropped Kambolov, “taking into account the training time (until the World Cup begins) and the possibility of exacerbating the problem.”
Kambolov was investigated by FIFA this year following the publication of World Anti-Doping Agency investigations alleging Russian officials covered up earlier doping cases.
Lawyers for Kambolov said last month his case was closed for lack of evidence, though FIFA hasn’t confirmed that.
The center back Ignashevich has made 120 appearances for Russia but last played for the team at the 2016 European Championship.
Russia coach Stanislav Cherchesov said he met on Sunday with Ignashevich, who refused previous comeback pleas.
“Ignashevich heard me out calmly,” Cherchesov said in a statement. “And today he gave his agreement after the results of Kambolov’s examination became clear.”
Russia is struggling ahead of the tournament with no wins in its last five games. Since the start of 2016, it has played 13 games against teams who will be at the World Cup and won only once, against South Korea.
In Group A, Russia plays Saudi Arabia in the opening game of the World Cup on June 14 in Moscow, followed by Egypt and Uruguay.
Ahead of the tournament, Russia has scheduled friendlies against Austria away on May 30 and against Turkey in Moscow on June 5.
Russia’s 28-man preliminary squad must be cut to 23 players by June 4.
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