Anti-doping chief warns Blues over blood-spinning

CHELSEA have been warned controversial blood-spinning techniques used to treat injured players may be unlawful.

The alert was issued by Dick Pound, head of the World Anti-Doping Agency, following unsubstantiated reports that Chelsea had offered the treatment to Arjen Robben.

The process involves taking a sample of the athlete's blood, removing the platelets - the cells which assist the healing process - and then injecting them back into the injured area. It is claimed it speeds up recovery.