FA still consider action against Mutu

THE Football Association were last night continuing to consider what action to take against Adrian Mutu following his failed drugs test, as Sports Minister Richard Caborn calls on them to maintain a tough stance with the Chelsea striker.

Although Professional Footballers Association chief Gordon Taylor claimed Mutu tested positive for cocaine, the Chelsea striker has since indicated he did not take the Class A drug but instead used a substance aimed at improving his sexual performance. Neither the FA nor Chelsea has made any official statement on the matter and no charges have yet been brought against the former Parma striker who is understood to have begun counselling as part of his rehabilitation.

None of Mutu’s representatives was available for comment yesterday.

Under the disciplinary code of the sport’s world governing body, FIFA, the Romanian international faces a six-month ban for what would be a first doping offence.

However, because of Mutu’s admission that he took drugs, the FA could instead order him to undergo a period of counselling, treatment and rehabilitation without imposing any suspension. They may react with more compassion to a recreational offence, but the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) refuses to recognise any distinction between a ‘recreational’ drug such as cocaine and performance-enhancing substances.

While cocaine is banned as a stimulant during competition, WADA do not require sports to test for it out of competition, so there is no formal accord to impose the maximum two-year ban for a positive test.

Caborn, though, wants the FA to maintain a hard-line stance. “As far as I am concerned, the FA have now signed up to the WADA code - and it’s quite clear. I would have thought after the Rio Ferdinand case and Lord Coe’s review into the FA’s drug testing procedures, the rules are in place now - and everyone knows, in terms of out-of-competition testing, what the results are if found guilty. This case should result in a two-year ban.

“What I have tried to do is make sure governing bodies in sport are fit for the purpose - that’s from disciplinary measures on the park to expressing their authority on the drugs issue. Everyone knows what the rules are and what universal acceptance now means.”