Post by Salem6 on Oct 7, 2003 11:30:22 GMT
Rio Ferdinand is reported to have been ruled out of England's crucial Euro 2004 qualifier in Turkey on Saturday.
Ferdinand has 33 international caps
Professional Footballers' Association chairman Gordon Taylor claims Ferdinand has been left out of the England squad pending an investigation into his failure to attend a routine drugs test.
Taylor hit out at the Football Association's treatment of the Manchester United defender, though his comments came before any official FA announcement.
Taylor told BBC Radio Five Live: "There is a due process but they made a decision which I feel is a breach of confidentiality according to their own rules.
"It means they are naming and shaming him and that goes against their own policy."
There has never been an interim suspension before a hearing
PFA chief Gordon Taylor
Drugs testing policy usually prevents disclosure of a player's identity until he is proven guilty and a punishment has been decided.
But Taylor added: "I was given the impression on Sunday night that the FA had made their minds up about not to select him for the England squad, and I find that disgraceful."
Ferdinand missed a pre-arranged drugs test at Manchester United's Carrington training ground on 23 September.
But the Premiership champions insisted he had not been charged with any offence, although he had been asked to attend a "personal interview" on 13 October to explain his reasons for his non-attendance.
The controversy surrounding Ferdinand is believed to be the reason why Sven-Goran Eriksson has delayed naming his squad for the crucial match against Turkey in Istanbul.
England delay naming squad
The squad is now expected to be announced at 1300 BST on Tuesday.
If Ferdinand's absence is confirmed, it is expected that Chelsea's John Terry will partner Sol Campbell in the centre of England's defence.
It is understood that Ferdinand, 24, forgot to attend the test because he was moving house the same day.
Manchester United said in a statement that he took and passed a subsequent test within 36 hours.
However, Ferdinand's missed appointment would still constitute a technical breach of anti-drugs laws endorsed by Fifa and Uefa, for which the maximum penalty is a two-year ban.
FA officials are believed to have held talks with Old Trafford officials on Monday evening to discuss the crisis.
But Taylor insists the situation has been poorly handled.
He told BBC Radio Five Live: "He had his reasons for not being able to attend the test but there has not been a formal due process of football law.
Inside a drugs test
"We have had other instances where a player has not been able to attend and has given valid reasons.
"There has then been a fine and confidentiality has been respected - that is the whole nature of drug testing.
"A meeting had been laid down for next Monday which the club and the player would have attended and following that a decision would be taken as to whether a charge would be made.
"There would then have been a commission and a decision over what type of punishment would be in place, if any.
"Sometimes we get carried away with a particular hype and there is not due consideration in the law."
Ferdinand has 33 international caps
Professional Footballers' Association chairman Gordon Taylor claims Ferdinand has been left out of the England squad pending an investigation into his failure to attend a routine drugs test.
Taylor hit out at the Football Association's treatment of the Manchester United defender, though his comments came before any official FA announcement.
Taylor told BBC Radio Five Live: "There is a due process but they made a decision which I feel is a breach of confidentiality according to their own rules.
"It means they are naming and shaming him and that goes against their own policy."
There has never been an interim suspension before a hearing
PFA chief Gordon Taylor
Drugs testing policy usually prevents disclosure of a player's identity until he is proven guilty and a punishment has been decided.
But Taylor added: "I was given the impression on Sunday night that the FA had made their minds up about not to select him for the England squad, and I find that disgraceful."
Ferdinand missed a pre-arranged drugs test at Manchester United's Carrington training ground on 23 September.
But the Premiership champions insisted he had not been charged with any offence, although he had been asked to attend a "personal interview" on 13 October to explain his reasons for his non-attendance.
The controversy surrounding Ferdinand is believed to be the reason why Sven-Goran Eriksson has delayed naming his squad for the crucial match against Turkey in Istanbul.
England delay naming squad
The squad is now expected to be announced at 1300 BST on Tuesday.
If Ferdinand's absence is confirmed, it is expected that Chelsea's John Terry will partner Sol Campbell in the centre of England's defence.
It is understood that Ferdinand, 24, forgot to attend the test because he was moving house the same day.
Manchester United said in a statement that he took and passed a subsequent test within 36 hours.
However, Ferdinand's missed appointment would still constitute a technical breach of anti-drugs laws endorsed by Fifa and Uefa, for which the maximum penalty is a two-year ban.
FA officials are believed to have held talks with Old Trafford officials on Monday evening to discuss the crisis.
But Taylor insists the situation has been poorly handled.
He told BBC Radio Five Live: "He had his reasons for not being able to attend the test but there has not been a formal due process of football law.
Inside a drugs test
"We have had other instances where a player has not been able to attend and has given valid reasons.
"There has then been a fine and confidentiality has been respected - that is the whole nature of drug testing.
"A meeting had been laid down for next Monday which the club and the player would have attended and following that a decision would be taken as to whether a charge would be made.
"There would then have been a commission and a decision over what type of punishment would be in place, if any.
"Sometimes we get carried away with a particular hype and there is not due consideration in the law."