Anti-doping expert backs FIFA stand on testing

BERN, Switzerland: A leading anti-doping expert said on Monday that soccer players should be exempt from doping controls during summer vacations.

The issue has caused a rift between FIFA and the World Anti-Doping Agency after football's governing body opposed parts of the new testing code which calls for elite athletes in all sports to be available for testing every day.

Martial Saugy, who is an adviser to both sides, said players could go untested in the offseason for at least two weeks without being able to dope untraced.