LONDON - England's Football Association has defended its anti-doping policy after claims in a television programme that it attempted to play down cases of players who had tested positive for banned drugs.
The claims were made on Monday in a Channel Four Dispatches programme, which revealed names of several players who have failed tests for cocaine.
It highlighted the case of Scottish international Garry O'Connor, who is accused of failing a drugs test while at Birmingham City and being allowed to serve a secret two-month ban during the 2009-2010 season.
The FA's policy is to protect the privacy of players who fail tests for "social" drugs out of competition, though punishments of up to six months for first-time offenders can be handed out. In the case of performance-enhancing drugs, the player is named, whether tested in or out of competition.
FA 'plays down' cocaine
LONDON - England's Football Association has defended its anti-doping policy after claims in a television programme that it attempted to play down cases of players who had tested positive for banned drugs.
The claims were made on Monday in a Channel Four Dispatches programme, which revealed names of several players who have failed tests for cocaine.
It highlighted the case of Scottish international Garry O'Connor, who is accused of failing a drugs test while at Birmingham City and being allowed to serve a secret two-month ban during the 2009-2010 season.
The FA's policy is to protect the privacy of players who fail tests for "social" drugs out of competition, though punishments of up to six months for first-time offenders can be handed out. In the case of performance-enhancing drugs, the player is named, whether tested in or out of competition.
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