A few answers to regular queries.
Which players are subject to Doping Control?
Under FA Doping Control Regulations, all participants in association football can be made subject to Doping Control. However the majority of the testing programme is aimed at the professional game and elite women’s game.
Who decides when players are drug tested?
The FA Doping Control Programme is a carefully designed combination of random and targeted testing, to enable the testing of teams and players at key points during the season. Targeted testing schedules are designed according to research on known doping patterns, in order to provide the most effective possible deterrent and detection programme. The number of times a particular club is tested at a match fixture, or at a training session each season, and the dates of testing, will vary from year to year, to ensure that the testing programme is as unpredictable as possible.
Are players and/or clubs told in advance when they will be tested?
No, The FA Doping Control Programme is run entirely at no-notice to the players and the clubs involved ensuring that the testing programme is as unpredictable as possible for those who may be tempted to use prohibited substances.
What are the drug testing procedures?
Samples collected under The FA Doping Control Programme are managed by UK Anti-Doping. Procedures for drug testing adhere to The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) International Standard for Testing. Visit
www.ukad.org.uk for details of the sample collection process.
Why doesn’t The FA test players at every match fixture?
Although post-match testing (or in-competition testing) is an important aspect of any doping control programme, World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) guidelines suggest that out of competition is the most effective means of detecting the use of prohibited substances. A drug testing programme based entirely on post-match testing is predicable for players, as any player who had taken a prohibited substance would always be aware of possible dates on which they might be tested. This may allow the player to plan their doping programme to avoid detection. Because The FA conduct a mixture of unannounced in and out-of-competition tests, players can be tested on any day of the week at any time during the year which makes it much more difficult for a player using a prohibited substance to know when they are going to be tested.
What happens if a player refuses to be tested?
Failure to submit to a drug test is an offence under FA Doping Control Regulations. Should a player be selected for drug testing who then refuses to be tested, or attempts to evade a Doping Control Officer, this is recorded as a ‘refusal to submit to doping control’ and is reported to The FA and appropriate disciplinary action taken.
Who sets the penalties for doping offences?
As a member association of FIFA, The FA are required to follow any penalties for doping offences set by FIFA.
How are penalties decided for each substance?
Penalties for each prohibited substance are set by WADA according to the ability of the substance to be successfully used by an athlete as a doping agent. This has resulted in substances such as steroids, growth hormones and diuretics carrying the longest minimum penalties whilst other substances such as asthma medications and cannabis, which may offer some limited performance enhancing benefit in certain situations or which may be accidentally used as doping agents, carrying minimum penalties of a warning.
What is the minimum penalty that must be given to a player for a proven performance enhancing finding?
The minimum penalty given to any player for a proven performance enhancing finding under The FA Doping Control Programme will be equivalent to the penalty in force at the time for an equivalent finding under FIFA Doping Control Regulations.
What penalties are imposed on players who refuse to be tested?
If a player fails to provide a urine sample, The FA is unable to ascertain whether the player has refused because they have used a prohibited substance, and there is no way for The FA to discover what the substance is. Therefore, the player must be treated as if they had used the substance which carries the strongest minimum penalty under FA Doping Control Regulations as The FA would have no means of determining otherwise.
What happens if I have a negative drug test?
Results of drug testing will usually take between 4-6 weeks to be reported to The FA. If your test is negative, you and your club Secretary will be notified in writing by The FA and you will not be required to do anything further.
If you are tested by FIFA or UEFA, the process for managing your results may be slightly different, but you should still make sure that you are given the result of your test by your club or your international team administrator.
What happens if I have a positive drug test?
If the test is conducted by The FA, a positive result will usually be reported to The FA within four weeks of the test. The FA will contact your club Secretary to inform them of the finding and you will be contacted in writing by The FA to notify you personally and advise you of the disciplinary process.
All players returning positive tests are offered the opportunity to have their ‘B’ sample analysed to check whether the result matches the ‘A’ sample before disciplinary proceedings commence.
If the drug test is conducted by FIFA or UEFA, the reporting process will be as stated in the relevant organisations’ doping control regulations.
Does it matter if I didn’t intentionally take the substance?
No, doping control regulations operate on the basis of a legal point known as ‘strict liability’. This means that if the banned substance is present in your urine when you are drug tested, you are responsible for it, no matter how it got there and you will still face disciplinary proceedings.
Who should I tell if my test comes back positive?
Only your club secretary, club doctor and PFA representative (where applicable) will be advised of the finding by The FA. Details of a finding will only be publicly reported by The FA and/or UK Anti-Doping once disciplinary proceedings have been completed. Only if the finding involves a substance on the list of prohibited substances and methods, or if a player has refused to be tested will UK Anti-Doping reveal the actual name of the player, otherwise the substance and any sanction are the only items reported.
