Post by Taxigirl on Oct 25, 2003 9:36:46 GMT
Football has been rocked by a new scandal as it emerges two players have tested positive for cocaine and ecstasy in the last three months.
UK Sport, the Government's anti-doping agency, revealed in its quarterly results that two footballers had failed the tests.
The unnamed players were among 272 footballers from the Premiership, Football League and Conference tested between 1 July and 30 September.
The FA has refused to confirm the identities of the players involved in a scandal which comes in the wake of the discovery of designer steroid tetrahydrogestrinone (THG) in athletics and the Rio Ferdinand affair.
It's hysteria at the moment and people want to know if they're big stars, but we've not even had chance to have the hearing
PFA boss Gordon Taylor
UK Sport listed three players in their three-monthly report, including a player who "failed to comply".
Ferdinand, Manchester United's £30m defender, missed a test last month after claiming he "forgot" about it. The disciplinary process is ongoing.
The second footballer tested positive for cocaine and UK Sport say the FA have "ordered the player to provide a letter of explanation for the positive finding and be interviewed".
The third player failed a test which revealed ecstasy use and will also be required to give an explanation in an ongoing investigation.
FA spokesman Adrian Bevington said: "The results show very few players test positive. It's a tiny percentage and that's a good sign.
"Additionally, the positive tests are not for performance-enhancing drugs."
But the results have prompted a row between UK Sport and the Professional Footballers' Association.
Players' union chief executive Gordon Taylor accused the drug testers of "breaching players' confidentiality" by revealing they have failed checks before disciplinary hearings have been held.
Taylor said: "We've had two positive tests for social drugs - so UK Sport put that out and now there's a witch-hunt on to find out who they are.
"It's hysteria at the moment and people want to know if they're big stars, but we've not even had chance to have the hearing.
"A name comes out and that's prejudicial to a hearing as people leap to judgements.
"I can understand why other sports have chosen not to use UK Sport because of their immediate breach of confidentiality. I'm not impressed by their attitude."
Langley hit back, saying: "We're the national anti-doping agency so we're publicly accountable and report our results quarterly.
"But we'd be happy to sit down with the PFA and the FA and talk about any issues.
"We have a good working relationship with the FA and work closely with them on drug testing."
UK Sport, the Government's anti-doping agency, revealed in its quarterly results that two footballers had failed the tests.
The unnamed players were among 272 footballers from the Premiership, Football League and Conference tested between 1 July and 30 September.
The FA has refused to confirm the identities of the players involved in a scandal which comes in the wake of the discovery of designer steroid tetrahydrogestrinone (THG) in athletics and the Rio Ferdinand affair.
It's hysteria at the moment and people want to know if they're big stars, but we've not even had chance to have the hearing
PFA boss Gordon Taylor
UK Sport listed three players in their three-monthly report, including a player who "failed to comply".
Ferdinand, Manchester United's £30m defender, missed a test last month after claiming he "forgot" about it. The disciplinary process is ongoing.
The second footballer tested positive for cocaine and UK Sport say the FA have "ordered the player to provide a letter of explanation for the positive finding and be interviewed".
The third player failed a test which revealed ecstasy use and will also be required to give an explanation in an ongoing investigation.
FA spokesman Adrian Bevington said: "The results show very few players test positive. It's a tiny percentage and that's a good sign.
"Additionally, the positive tests are not for performance-enhancing drugs."
But the results have prompted a row between UK Sport and the Professional Footballers' Association.
Players' union chief executive Gordon Taylor accused the drug testers of "breaching players' confidentiality" by revealing they have failed checks before disciplinary hearings have been held.
Taylor said: "We've had two positive tests for social drugs - so UK Sport put that out and now there's a witch-hunt on to find out who they are.
"It's hysteria at the moment and people want to know if they're big stars, but we've not even had chance to have the hearing.
"A name comes out and that's prejudicial to a hearing as people leap to judgements.
"I can understand why other sports have chosen not to use UK Sport because of their immediate breach of confidentiality. I'm not impressed by their attitude."
Langley hit back, saying: "We're the national anti-doping agency so we're publicly accountable and report our results quarterly.
"But we'd be happy to sit down with the PFA and the FA and talk about any issues.
"We have a good working relationship with the FA and work closely with them on drug testing."