Football urged to up the ante against doping

Football must do more in the fight against drug cheats, World Anti-Doping Agency president John Fahey has warned.

The subject of doping has been brought into focus recently, with the case of disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong followed by revelations of cheating in Australian sport.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes current controls in football are not strict enough to catch the cheats and WADA president Fahey agrees with the Frenchman, highlighting a need for increased testing for the blood-boosting drug EPO and the use of athlete biological passports.

“Whatever the sport, wherever it is in the world, more can be done,” the Australian said yesterday.

“I saw some examples recently, in tennis, where senior players were saying they were not tested terribly regularly.

“I would say tennis can do more, as can football do more.

“I simply say this about football – they are not testing enough for EPO. They can do more and we encourage them to do more,” he added.