Post by Taxigirl on Oct 29, 2003 9:42:52 GMT
David Beckham has vowed to support Rio Ferdinand as his England team-mate prepares for the Football Association's decision on his failure to attend a drugs test.
Beckham says he will back Ferdinand even though his former Manchester United team-mate is set to be charged on Wednesday with missing the anti-doping test on 23 September.
"You always hope players don't get long bans. It's his career," said Beckham.
"We'll support him through thick and thin."
The Real Madrid star also defended the behaviour of England's players in jumping to the defence of Ferdinand prior to the Turkey match on 6 October.
At one stage it seemed as though they might strike over the FA's decision to drop Ferdinand from the squad, but in a statement they denied ever having considered boycotting the Istanbul tie.
"We put out a statement and we made our point. Now the matter is out of everyone's hands - I'm sure it will be dealt with," Beckham added.
The FA is expected to formally charge Ferdinand on Wednesday.
Investigations by the FA's compliance team over the last three weeks have made it increasingly likely that he could also face a more severe allegation of deliberately missing the test.
The FA's compliance unit, led by Steve Barrow, has been examining the evidence delivered by United on the matter.
The documents sent from the Old Trafford club include Ferdinand's mobile phone records, which could provide the key evidence in the case.
England defender Ferdinand was selected at random by UK Sport anti-doping officers to take a drugs test at his club's Carrington training ground.
But he left the scene, later claiming he had forgotten because he was moving house.
He also claims he tried to telephone the club in a bid to have the test later in the day.
If the evidence gathered proves the England centre-half deliberately missed his drugs test, the more serious charge would carry a certain ban.
It appears Ferdinand's mobile phone was switched on, raising questions as to why he did not respond sooner to messages from United telling him he had missed the test.
But Ferdinand will hope the records support his claims that he did contact the FA once he realised he had forgotten the appointment.
According to reports, Ferdinand finally spoke to United's club doctor Mike Stone more than an hour and a half after leaving the training ground and immediately rang the FA.
Before that he had sent a text to Patrick O'Reilly of the Highfield Medical Association in Stockport, who had been treating him for a kidney infection.