Premier League plan tough new drug testing regime

The Premier League is planning to come in line with other sporting organisations by implementing a strict drug testing regime…

The Premier League is planning to come in line with other sporting organisations by implementing a strict drug testing regime. Players face a raft of extra tests under a new crackdown being planned  that will see 30 top-flight players checked five times a year in addition to existing post-match tests.

The players will also be forced to provide details of their whereabouts for one hour every day, including end-of-season holidays.

The moves are part of efforts by sporting chiefs to bring football's anti-drugs controls and procedures more in line with sports like athletics and cycling.

Andy Parkinson, UK Sport's head of operations for a drug-free sport, said he was not setting out to make life difficult for footballers but trying to "protect their sport".

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"The last thing we want is for football to be in that position where it doesn't focus enough — doesn't put controls in place — and suddenly finds itself a sport with a fantastic profile in a crisis," he said.

"The identity of the players on the list will be decided by UK Sport and the FA.

"We'll take into account behaviour of athletes in the past, long-term injuries where maybe they disappeared to Eastern Europe for six months to get an injury sorted — or if they have had a doping violation."

Anti-drug testers currently pick two players at random for a urine sample after every match.

Among those punished for drug offences in the past are former Chelsea goalkeeper Mark Bosnich, sacked by the club and awarded a nine-month ban in 2003 after testing positive for cocaine.

Another Chelsea player, Adrian Mutu, was also suspended by the FA for seven months in 2004 after failing a drugs test.