World Cup bombshell as ex-champs 'avoided anti-doping tests' before winning

Shocking claims are casting doubt on the legitimacy of France’s 1998 World Cup title, alleging the national team was exempt from unannounced anti-doping tests for a full year before winning. Marie-George Buffet, who served as sports minister under Lionel Jospin from 1997 to 2002, made the disclosure in the documentary “Zidane: The Making of a Legend”. It comes 13 years after she had denied similar accusations before a Senate Committee. Buffet says the decision followed a surprise anti-doping test during a training camp in Tignes in 1997. Although urine tests were negative, players, then-manager Aime Jacquet and the French Football Federation (FFF) criticized the ministry for disrupting preparations. The doctor Alan Garnier says Buffet told him to stop unannounced tests until the World Cup. France beat Brazil 3-0 in the final, with Zinedine Zidane scoring twice and Emmanuel Petit adding a stoppage-time goal. Zidane is set to replace Didier Deschamps as coach.