Post by QPR Report on Nov 11, 2008 7:44:17 GMT
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Obviously non-QPR
Sporting Life -DRUGS COME UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT
Players with previous doping convictions are set to be included in a register that will see them target tested as part of a series of measures to be introduced in a bid to combat drug taking in football.
The Football Association and UK Sport, the national anti-doping organisation, are working together to reduce the use of performance-enhancing substances as well as recreational drugs in the game.
While football has never had the high-profile drugs problems as sports such as athletics and cycling, drug testing is to become more stringent.
Andy Parkinson, the acting director of drug-free sport at UK Sport, told The Sun: "The identity of the players on the list will be decided by UK Sport and the FA.
"We'll take into account behaviour of athletes in the past, long-term injuries where maybe they disappeared to Eastern Europe for six months to get an injury sorted - or if they have had a doping violation."
Rio Ferdinand is one of the most high-profile players to have incurred a suspension when he was given an eight-month ban for missing a drugs test at Manchester United's training ground in September 2003.
Parkinson continued: "Rio Ferdinand would get two years now for a refusal.
"He had been notified that he needed to supply a sample and, under the new code, we'd call that a refusal or a failure to comply."
There will also be a concentration on random testing with Parkinson adding: "Players have licence to take anything they want in the summer as they disappear off our radar.
"I'm not arguing they do take things - but when England didn't qualify for the last Euro Championships, they didn't reappear until six weeks later before pre-season training. They could have done anything.
"Under this, they could be in Barbados and we can still test them.
"We are not evil regulators out to make life difficult for footballers. We're trying to protect their sport."
THE GUARDIAN
Top players targeted in drug-testing crackdown
Thirty Premier League players are set to be placed on a drug-testing register which will require them to provide details of their whereabouts on every day of the year, including during the close season, as part of an enhanced anti-drug programme.
The scheme, coordinated by the Football Association and UK Sport, will make testing for some footballers similar to that faced by elite athletes. They are expected to be tested five times a year, in addition to random post-match checks, and are likely to face a ban similar to that incurred by the 400m runner Christine Ohoruogu if they are not at locations they have specified to testers in advance.
It is understood the players will have to provide details of where they will be for an hour every day. UK Sport and the FA are set for further talks on the issue and discussions will also be held with the Professional Footballers' Association with a view to starting the scheme in July.
"Players have licence to take anything they want in the summer as they disappear off our radar," said Andy Parkinson, UK Sport's head of operations in its drug-free sport team. "I'm not arguing they do take things but when England didn't qualify for the last Euro Championships, they didn't reappear till six weeks later before pre-season training. They could have done anything. Under this, they could be in Barbados and we can still test them."
Parkinson added in the Sun: "The identity of the players on the list will be decided by UK Sport and the FA. We'll take into account behaviour of athletes in the past, long-term injuries where maybe they disappeared to eastern Europe for six months to get an injury sorted - or if they have a doping violation."
Obviously non-QPR
Sporting Life -DRUGS COME UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT
Players with previous doping convictions are set to be included in a register that will see them target tested as part of a series of measures to be introduced in a bid to combat drug taking in football.
The Football Association and UK Sport, the national anti-doping organisation, are working together to reduce the use of performance-enhancing substances as well as recreational drugs in the game.
While football has never had the high-profile drugs problems as sports such as athletics and cycling, drug testing is to become more stringent.
Andy Parkinson, the acting director of drug-free sport at UK Sport, told The Sun: "The identity of the players on the list will be decided by UK Sport and the FA.
"We'll take into account behaviour of athletes in the past, long-term injuries where maybe they disappeared to Eastern Europe for six months to get an injury sorted - or if they have had a doping violation."
Rio Ferdinand is one of the most high-profile players to have incurred a suspension when he was given an eight-month ban for missing a drugs test at Manchester United's training ground in September 2003.
Parkinson continued: "Rio Ferdinand would get two years now for a refusal.
"He had been notified that he needed to supply a sample and, under the new code, we'd call that a refusal or a failure to comply."
There will also be a concentration on random testing with Parkinson adding: "Players have licence to take anything they want in the summer as they disappear off our radar.
"I'm not arguing they do take things - but when England didn't qualify for the last Euro Championships, they didn't reappear until six weeks later before pre-season training. They could have done anything.
"Under this, they could be in Barbados and we can still test them.
"We are not evil regulators out to make life difficult for footballers. We're trying to protect their sport."
THE GUARDIAN
Top players targeted in drug-testing crackdown
Thirty Premier League players are set to be placed on a drug-testing register which will require them to provide details of their whereabouts on every day of the year, including during the close season, as part of an enhanced anti-drug programme.
The scheme, coordinated by the Football Association and UK Sport, will make testing for some footballers similar to that faced by elite athletes. They are expected to be tested five times a year, in addition to random post-match checks, and are likely to face a ban similar to that incurred by the 400m runner Christine Ohoruogu if they are not at locations they have specified to testers in advance.
It is understood the players will have to provide details of where they will be for an hour every day. UK Sport and the FA are set for further talks on the issue and discussions will also be held with the Professional Footballers' Association with a view to starting the scheme in July.
"Players have licence to take anything they want in the summer as they disappear off our radar," said Andy Parkinson, UK Sport's head of operations in its drug-free sport team. "I'm not arguing they do take things but when England didn't qualify for the last Euro Championships, they didn't reappear till six weeks later before pre-season training. They could have done anything. Under this, they could be in Barbados and we can still test them."
Parkinson added in the Sun: "The identity of the players on the list will be decided by UK Sport and the FA. We'll take into account behaviour of athletes in the past, long-term injuries where maybe they disappeared to eastern Europe for six months to get an injury sorted - or if they have a doping violation."