Football Association executive director David Davies today confirmed thatplayers who fail to take drugs tests could face immediate suspensions.
The confirmation follows FIFA president Sepp Blatter's criticism of the FA forallowing Rio Ferdinand to continue playing for Manchester United in the timebetween his failure to take the test in September and his disciplinary hearingon December 18.
Davies admitted the FA's current rules had not envisaged exactly what wouldhappen in the case of a player who did fail or refuse to take a test.
He said one of the options being considered by the FA's working group - whichis to include Lord Coe it was announced yesterday - would be to bring inimmediate suspensions.
Earlier, Manchester United were informed by the FA that they were "perfectly entitled" to play Rio Ferdinand even though he is subject to disciplinary proceedings.
FIFA president Sepp Blatter had questioned the validity of United's recent results because Ferdinand has been playing on despite being charged over missing the drugs test.
"He cannot play until the case is settled. The case is not settled," Blatter said. Sunday papers went as far as to suggest the champions would even be docked points.
Bevington refused to speculate but told BBC radio: "I would make clear... that under the current procedures, and I believe this is commonplace, certainly around Europe, that a player can continue playing for his club until a case is concluded.
"That's the procedure in place, if the procedures have got to be changed under FIFA regulations then we'd have to give serious consideration to it."
He added: "I think it is perfectly valid to point out that, as everyone is aware, the disciplinary procedures in this country are under serious review at the moment.
"The key to it here, to circumnavigate any further problems of this kind, is to ensure that the system is speeded up."
Ferdinand was charged by the FA a month ago with "failure or refusal" to take a drugs test after missing one at United's training ground in September.
The 24-year-old England defender has denied a misconduct charge and asked for a hearing, due next month.
Ferdinand was dropped by England over the missed drugs test before their October 11th Euro 2004 decider in Turkey but he has since played for United eight times in domestic and European competition, five times after he was charged on October 29th.
Blatter says he is writing "a very strong letter" to the FA.