PFA: drug test plans go ‘step too far’

PLAYERS’ chiefs have served notice that they will fight plans for the Premier League’s top stars to be tested for drug use in their own homes.

The Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) claim the plan would be “an invasion of privacy”.

Under the World Anti-Doping Association’s (WADA) new code, a pool of 30 elite players will be forced to undergo up to five tests a year — not including those carried out after matches.

The move is to bring sportsmen such as footballers into line with Olympic athletes, who must provide details on their location for an hour each day, including holidays.

PFA chief executive Gordon Taylor said the players’ union opposed some of the regulations.

Taylor said: “We feel that to invade the privacy of a player’s home would be a step too far.

“If we complain about anything to do with drug-testing, then people think we might have something to hide, but football’s record is extremely good and there has been a virtual absence of any performance-enhancing drugs, and that goes back decades.

“We do appreciate that football is a major spectator sport and we wish to cooperate, but football should not be treated in the same way as individual sports that do have a problem with drugs, such as athletics, cycling and weightlifting.

“For most of the year the whereabouts of players is always known — either at their training ground or matches.”

The FA’s drug-testing programme is the biggest in British sport, with 1,600 tests conducted every season.

Andy Parkinson, UK Sport’s head of operations for a drug-free sport, insisted the new rules were not aimed at making life difficult for footballers but trying to “protect their sport”.

“I’m not arguing they do take things – but When England didn’t qualify for the last European Championships, they didn’t reappear until six weeks later before pre-season training. They could have done anything.

“Under this, they could be in Barbados and we can still test them.”