Players face random drug tests in Champions League

PREMIERSHIP players in the Champions League may have visits from drug-testers at their homes.

Uefa has introduced out-of-competition drug testing, which means players can be tested anywhere in the eight days before a Champions League match.

A Uefa spokesman said: “Clubs entering the Champions League this season have had to agree to this rule. We are following sports like athletics and cycling and now we can test players at training grounds or at their homes.”

The World Anti-Doping Agency is increasing its pressure on football to increase testing and has threatened to remove the sport from the Olympics unless Fifa falls into line on drug-testing policy.

Under the rules introduced by Uefa for this season’s Champions League, clubs will be required to tell the governing body of their players’ whereabouts prior to games.

Prior to this season, two players were randomly selected to be tested after each game.

But now Uefa plan to test players from all 32 clubs entering the Champions League group stages.

The Uefa spokesman said: “This will be done completely randomly and the element is surprise.

“We can call upon any player, at any time. Clubs have to tell us the location of all their players in the eight days before a game and we must be able to reach players at any time. No notice will be given to the players.”

Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand was banned for eight months by the English Football Association in December 2003 for failing to attend a drugs test.

Chelsea sacked Romanian striker Adrian Mutu last year after he tested positive for cocaine.