The Russian national team have been accused of sniffing ammonia which helps increase lung capacity before their historic victory over Spain and defeat by Croatia at the World Cup. The startling accusations were made by German newspaper Bild and have reportedly been confirmed by the Russian team doctor.
Team doctor Eduard Bezuglov reportedly admitted that Russian players had sniffed ammonia before the matches, saying: ‘It is simple ammonia which pieces of cotton are dipped into and is then inhaled. Thousands of sports-people do it to stimulate themselves. It has been used for decades.’