Chelsea fined for 'private drug testing'

Chelsea have reacted angrily after being handed a £40,000 (€59,346) fine and a warning from the Football Association for conducting private drug testing on their players.

The Premiership champions were found guilty by an independent disciplinary commission of breaching the FA’s doping control regulations more than two years ago.

“Chelsea were charged in relation to the independent private drug testing the club conducted on some of its players on July 12, 2004,” a statement from the FA read.

“The commission found that, in conducting such tests, the club had breached the FA’s doping control regulations.”

Chelsea had denied the charge and requested a personal hearing, and after they were punished insisted they were committed to the fight against drugs in football.

A statement from the club read: “The Football Association would be better served using its resources to increasing the effectiveness of its random testing and applying the toughest penalties available in all drug-related cases, rather than punishing those who act genuinely in the fight against drugs.”