News: Wales are to appeal again to UEFA after failing to have Russia removed from the finals of Euro 2004 because of Yegor Titov's failed drug test. The Football Association of Wales (FAW) said yesterday it would contest the decision by European soccer's governing body on Tuesday not to uphold their complaint.

Titov has been suspended from all competitive matches for a year after testing positive for the banned stimulant bromantan following the goalless first leg of the play-off between the two countries in November.

Russia won the second leg 1-0 a week later in Cardiff to qualify for this year's tournament in Portugal, but the FAW said Wales should have been given a retroactive 3-0 win and a place at the European Championships starting in June because Titov - an unused substitute in the first leg - should not have been eligible to play.

UEFA said on Tuesday in turning down Wales's complaint that any punishment for a doping offence applied to the individual player and not to the whole team.

They confirmed they have received the appeal from the FAW and said a date for a hearing will be set next week.

Secretary general David Collins and manager Mark Hughes will fly to Switzerland for the hearing, backed up with legal and medical experts, to state Wales's case.

Hughes said: "UEFA had the opportunity to make a stand against drug taking in our sport, and they have failed to do so.

"I will be part of the team that goes to the hearing and will address the committee myself.

"We intend to take this all the way, and if we fail this time we will consider going to the European sports arbitration body.

"Why should we not do this? Anybody else would do the same. For too long we have maybe felt that we are only Wales so what we say will not make a difference.

"But that is not the case now, we have made people sit up and take notice on the pitch and now we aim to do the same off it as well. Logistics of ticket sales, hotels booked, draws made, should not come into it.

"Yugoslavia dropped out in '92 and Denmark came off the beach to win the tournament and just took over their fixtures, so there is no need for a re-draw.

"I hope these things did not come into the thinking of the panel. This is a moral issue.

"Something has happened to effect the outcome of a game, so whatever the consequences the right decision should be made."