What happens if I have a negative drug test?

Results of drug testing will usually take up to three 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 until you are next drug tested.

You should always try and find out the result of your test as no news is not necessarily good news.

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 Sport 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 Sport reveal the actual name of the player, otherwise the substance and any sanction are the only items reported.