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World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada): Wada Happening with Drugs in Sport?

Is football a different case?

The Rio Ferdinand case could act as a spur to the football authorities to get their house in order. For some time there have been serious concerns over the way the Football Association treats cases such as these. Although the Ferdinand example is unique, it has raised concerns over the lack of speed with which disciplinary cases are dealt with, as well as shedding light on the attitudes within the sport towards drugs cheats.

For example, in 2002, the Rushden and Diamonds goalkeeper, Billy Turley, tested positive for nandrolone, but was let off with a warning after he claimed that a suspension would aggravate his wife's depression.

But Ferdinand's eight month ban for failing to attend a test, also contrasts sharply with punishments meted out in Italy for players who have actually failed drugs tests. For instance, in 2001, Dutch defender Jaap Stam, then playing for Lazio, tested positive for nandrolone and was suspended for five months.

Inconsistencies over the length of (or lack of) suspensions in these cases highlight the problem within the game. Football is only just coming to terms with its responsibilities on performance enhancing drugs. This contrasts sharply with the attitude shown by the sports of swimming and track and field athletics, where the penalty for a positive test for an anabolic steroid or hormone drug is a two-year ban.

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