Post by Taxigirl on Nov 2, 2003 10:25:35 GMT
The Football Association and UK Sport are investigating newspaper claims that four England internationals are being targeted for cocaine abuse.
The Sun newspaper claims five Premiership players - four of them recent or current England internationals - face random testing this season.
The five names have been handed to UK Sport and the FA by the newspaper after information received from former professional footballer Leon Jeanne, himself a confessed cocaine user.
In a statement, UK Sport said the newspaper had passed information to them.
"UK Sport can confirm it received information from a Sun journalist," the statement read.
"Any information UK Sport receives is taken seriously and dealt with in the strictest confidence. UK Sport is now working with the FA."
FA head of media relations Adrian Bevington confirmed the organisation had also received details.
"Clearly now we have that information to consider over the next few days and decide what steps, if any, are necessary," he said.
"I'm not prepared to comment on private conversations between two medical people but what I can say is that no current England player has tested positive for any drugs whatsoever, whether it be recreational drugs or whether it be performance-enhancing.
Earlier, Bevington said: "We have an extensive drug-testing programme and additionally invest very heavily in drug education and awareness.
"We work very closely with UK Sport on this matter and take our responsibilities extremely seriously.
"Clearly, if anyone made the FA aware of any such evidence we would look very closely at it."