Greek Defender Fails Drug Test as Doping Allegations Sweep Europe

The Superleague Greece is now the latest European league to be implicated in the Drug Doping allegations that have swept through Europe. The news comes after AEK Athens right back Christous Arkoudas failed a routine drug test conducted by Greece's anti-doping control.

According to Reuters (via Eurosport), the 22-year-old defender tested positive for the banned stimulant oxilofrine. Under the Hellenic Football Federation's disciplinary code, he could face a ban of up to two years. Arkoudas will face a second drug test prior to the investigation proceeding further.

Whilst the youngster was unavailable for a comment, it is expected he will exercise his right to appeal the decision.

The positive result comes in a week which has seen the world of football rocked by both doping and match-fixing allegations at the code's highest level. Pertaining to doping. Spanish side Real Sociedad have been put under pressure to come clean after it was revealed by a former club president that doctors illegally distributed performance-enhancing drugs to players (via Reuters).

Although penalties for drug taking in football exist, I am of the belief that the two years that Arkoudas could face are not nearly strong enough to send a message to the world that FIFA is serious about stamping illegal drug use out of football.

Talk of pressure and threats to take performance enhancers can no longer be used as scapegoats to escape punishment. Why? Because of the reality of it; the longer football submits to such excuses, the further its reputation will suffer and so to its ability to bring the world together.

Considering this particular case came to surface just days after the Sociedad allegations, the question that is begging to be answered is "what is to come?"