PFA make testing threat

Rio Ferdinand’s drugs case could force the Professional Footballers’ Association to pull out of their official testing programme with UK Sport.

The Manchester United defender faces a two-day hearing in Bolton, starting on Thursday, to establish why he failed to take a test at his club’s Carrington training ground on September 23.

Despite his insistence that he merely forget to attend the test and reports suggesting Ferdinand phoned United and told them he was willing to return to Carrington to take it, it is widely anticipated Ferdinand will receive a three-month suspension.

However, claims that the Old Trafford outfit have already discussed the matter with the FA and have decided only to appeal if the player is banned for longer than that length of time have been strenuously denied.

Throughout the whole drawn-out process, United have insisted Ferdinand is guilty of nothing more sinister than absent-mindedness and a high-ranking club official privately confirmed to the Press Association today that no bargaining with the FA has taken place and the player will receive a robust defence.

United’s stance has been backed by PFA chief executive Gordon Taylor, who believes Ferdinand’s name should never have been made public.

Taylor cites the example of Manchester City’s Christian Negouai, who was only fined when he failed to take a similar test, as evidence that Ferdinand has been ‘hung out to dry’.

And the PFA are treating the matter so seriously that they are threatening to pull out of all official tests with UK Sport, who they believe have acted inappropriately.

“Rio Ferdinand has been presumed guilty before he has been given a chance to prove his innocence,” Taylor told BBC Five Live’s Sportsweek programme.

“It is not like drinking and driving where the alcohol can be flushed out of your system. There were ways to find out whether he was taking drugs – he could have been target tested every week for the remainder of his career.

“We know he should have taken the test but why weren’t we informed that he hadn’t, or even his manager?

“The whole world now seems to think he is going to get a three-month suspension. How can he possibly get a fair hearing under those circumstances.

“If this situation occurs again, we will pull out of the testing procedure. The whole system has to be clearer and we do not want UK Sport acting arbitrarily. If the PFA had been represented, we would have made certain Rio had taken the test.”