Rio ban 'harsh', says Redknapp

Rio Ferdinand’s former West Ham manager Harry Redknapp has labelled the eight-month drugs ban meted out to the Manchester United and England defender “harsh”.

Redknapp, now in charge of Portsmouth, insists Ferdinand, also fined £50,000 (€71,000) for missing a routine drugs test on September 23, has nothing to hide and was simply forgetful.

“I’m sure in Rio’s case, having known him very well, he’s not a drug-taker,” he told BBC News 24.

“He’s a forgetful lad, to be honest with you.”

On the length of the ban, Redknapp added: “I think it’s a little harsh. If he had been caught taking drugs I would have said ‘Give him two years, give him three years’.

“He will obviously be very disappointed. He has a great love of football; he’s a fantastic footballer.”

Redknapp predicted even before United confirmed as much that Ferdinand would launch an appeal against the ban.

“I think it will go on, this case. They are a very powerful outfit, Manchester United,” he said.

Redknapp suggested that the manner of drug-testing in English football ought to change as a consequence of this case.

Speaking about the testers who visit training grounds, Redknapp said: “They should go over and say ‘Rio Ferdinand, you are having a drugs test today, and come in and get it done’.

“It has got to be done on a much more professional basis than it is at the moment.”

Former England manager Graham Taylor also believes football as a whole has lessons to learn from the Ferdinand saga.

“Everybody in football has to understand how important it is that we are drug free,” he told BBC Radio 5 Live.

“The message to all professional footballers is ‘You do not forget if you are being asked to take a drugs test’.”

Taylor accepts highly-paid young players are in danger of being tempted by drugs, whether they be recreational or performance-enhancing.

“It would be silly of any of us to think they would not come into contact with that sort of environment.

“The clubs and managers have to make it abundantly clear to young professional footballers who are earning tremendous amounts of money that they do not succumb to temptations.

“Professional football must understand it has to take responsibility for this now.”

Professional Footballers’ Association chief executive Gordon Taylor was beside himself at the severity of the punishment.

He felt Ferdinand could easily have been given the “benefit of the doubt”.

He told BBC Radio 5 Live: “We knew there would have to be a penalty.

“But an eight-month ban and £50,000 fine is, I feel, very draconian.

“I felt there was every opportunity for the FA to give him the benefit of the doubt.

“There had to be a penalty, bearing in mind the world pressure. But he has not been given the benefit of the doubt, quite clearly.”

In contrast, Dick Pound, president of the World Anti-Doping Agency, considered Ferdinand had “dodged the bullet” and ought to be very wary of Manchester United’s avowed intention to appeal on his behalf, in case he ends up with an even longer ban.

Pound told Sky Sports News: “He has dodged the bullet in some respects.

“The sentence is a third of the theoretical maximum he could have got, so he’s done pretty well from his perspective.

“The problem with a lot of the drugs that can be taken is that a lot can happen between the time you are designated to provide a sample and the time that you actually do take the test.”

Following last night’s announcement, the FA released their own short statement which noted only: “Clearly the commission regarded not taking a drugs test as a very serious matter and have taken their action accordingly.”

John Scott, the man currently in charge of doping issues at testing agency UK Sport, backed the FA’s handling of the matter.

He said: “It is the responsibility of the FA to set the penalty – and while the recommended ban for this sort of offence is two years, they have obviously taken account of the circumstances.

“Our main concern with any doping offence is that the governing body follows the rules and regulations, and we are very satisfied that the FA has gone through a proper process and a proper hearing.”