FA charge means Ferdinand could face two-year ban

RIO FERDINAND faces the prospect of a lengthy ban after the FA charged him yesterday with the serious offence of ‘failure or refusal to take a drugs test’.

Disciplinary action had been expected against the Manchester United defender but the wording of the charge to include 'refusal' shows the FA believe there was a deliberate element to Ferdinand missing the test.

A more minor misconduct charge of 'failure to submit to drug testing' could have been brought against him but the FA believe they have sufficient evidence to prove the 24-year-old deliberately avoided the test.