Soccer: PFA make test threat

RIO FERDINAND’S drugs case could force the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) to pull out of their official testing programme with UK Sport.

The Manchester United defender faces a two-day hearing in Bolton, starting on Thursday, to establish why he failed to take a test at his club’s Carrington training ground on September 23.

Despite his insistence that he merely forget to attend the test, it is widely anticipated Ferdinand will receive a three-month suspension.

However, claims that the Old Trafford outfit have already discussed the matter with the FA and have decided only to appeal if the player is banned for longer than that length of time have been denied.

Throughout the whole drawn-out process, United have insisted Ferdinand is guilty of nothing more than absent-mindedness and a high-ranking club official privately confirmed yesterday that no bargaining with the FA has taken place.

United’s stance has been backed by PFA chief executive Gordon Taylor.

Taylor cites the example of Manchester City’s Christian Negouai, who was only fined when he failed to take a similar test, as evidence that Ferdinand has been ‘hung out to dry’.