The Graph below shows the number of doping control tests conducted under The FA Doping Control Programme over the last thirteen seasons. As you can see, the amount of tests conducted has increased virtually year on year, alongside a slightly less uniform increase in positive findings (represented by the number above each bar).

Fig. 1 - FA Doping Control Programme total tests conducted, and total positive findings between 1994 and 2007.



The majority of findings from the FA Doping Control Programme over the last eleven seasons have been for ‘social drugs’. Non-compliances (refusals, or failure to submit to doping control when requested) are considered to be due to attempted doping, and prohibited medicines and cold cures are prohibited for their possible short term performance enhancing effects. However, so far, only one finding has involved a true performance enhancing substance, the anabolic steroid Nandrolone.

This fact is illustrated in the graph below which demonstrates the proportion of findings for all types of prohibited substances found by The FA Doping Control Programme over the last eleven seasons.

Fig. 2 – FA Doping Control Programme detected substances between 1990 and 2007.



Further analysis of the programme’s history demonstrates that the use of prohibited substances is not confined to the very highest level of the game (i.e. the Premier League). In fact, since 1990, players in the Premier League have retuned fewer positive tests than their colleagues in the Championship. However, as you would expect, below the Championship, positive findings tend to decrease as you move down the professional pyramid.

Fig. 3 – FA Doping Control Programme positive findings by League between 1990 and 2007.



Fig. 4 - FA Doping Control Programme detected substances by season between 1990 and 2007.



The demographics of those testing positive for prohibited substances are particularly important for the development of both the programme and the educational materials contained within it. Approximately one third of all positive findings in the last thirteen seasons have involved players under the age of 18. This is relatively unsurprising for two reasons. Firstly, it is often during these years that young people (not just footballers) face greater exposure to illegal substances and consequently begin to experiment with drugs (performance enhancing or otherwise). Secondly, as many young players do not sign on as scholars for their respective clubs until the age of 16, their education on the pitfalls of prohibited substances in football is likely to be limited.

Fig. 5 - FA Doping Control Programme positive findings by age group between 1990 and 2007.



Fig. 6 - FA Doping Control Programme detected substances by age group between 1990 and 2007.



Detecting Performance Enhancing Drugs

This historical lack of performance enhancing findings could be taken to indicate that either a serious doping problem does not exist within English football, or that the combination of the FA Doping Control education programme and deterrent effect of the FA drug testing programme has proved successful. Although both these factors may be true to some extent, it is essential that the FA continue to strive to ensure that its Doping Control Programme is as effective as possible in deterring and catching any player who may seek to use performance enhancing drugs.

The importance of this is clearly indicated in the fortunate discovery by WADA in 2003 of Tetrahydrogestrinone (THG), a steroid manufactured to be undetectable in standard urine tests. Several high profile international athletes had enjoyed success without their use of the drug being detected. This clearly indicates the importance to all sports, including football, of keeping up with new scientific developments and keeping up with the drug cheats.

In order to ensure that its doping control programme remains at the cutting edge of doping control and keeps pace with all new developments in the analysis of prohibited substances, The FA regularly reviews its programme with UK Sport to ensure that it can incorporate any new substances or analysis techniques as soon as they become available. In season 2004-2005, The FA became the first national governing body in the UK to include testing for the prohibited hormone Erythropoietin (EPO) as part of its annual testing programme, and tests for newly discovered substances will continue to be incorporated into the programme as they become available.