FA charge means Ferdinand could face two-year ban
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.
Ferdinand has requested a personal hearing and will be represented by a team of United's lawyers.
If he is unable to convince the FA disciplinary panel that he simply forgot that the team from UK Sport had asked to test him then a ban is virtually certain. The maximum punishment is a two-year ban but a suspension of around three months would be more likely.
The FA released a statement stating the regulations under which Ferdinand was being charged: "a breach of FA Rule E26, with reference to Regulation 1(c) of the FA Doping Control Regulations".
Regulation 1(c) refers to "the failure or refusal by a player to submit to drug testing as required by a competent official". It also means that if Ferdinand's excuse of forgetfulness is accepted then he can still be punished but in those circumstances he could hope to avoid a lengthy ban. English football's most expensive player missed the test at United's Carrington training ground on September 23, and as a consequence was omitted from England's squad that played against Turkey.
Since then, the FA have been investigating the case and even asked for the player's mobile phone records to judge if he had been, as he claimed, out of contact in the two hours after leaving the training ground.
It has become apparent that his mobile phone was switched on during the afternoon of September 23 and that raises questions as to why he did not respond to messages from United sooner telling him he had missed the test.
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. The eyes of the football world are watching the outcome of this case with keen interest, not least the world governing body FIFA.
The earliest available date for a hearing would appear to be between November 10 and November 19 when there are international matches, including England's friendly against Denmark which would not involve Ferdinand. If it is not between those dates, then a time in December, following the final Champions League group matches would be the next likely opportunity.
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