2007 Therepeutic Use Forms will go live on 1 January 2007 and you will be able to download them here on that date.

On 21 November, The FA Council approved new Doping Regulations which bring English football into line with the WADA Code and which will come into force in January 2007. Under the new regulations, minimum two-year suspensions will be imposed for testing positive for prohibited substances on the WADA list, with permanent suspension for a repeat offence.

In line with WADA, the period of suspension may be reduced if the player can show that there was no fault/no significant fault on their part (e.g. contaminated substance) but the onus is firmly on the player to provide firm evidence and such cases are exceptional.

In addition, sanctions can also be reduced in the case of Specified Substances as defined by WADA (e.g. cannabis, ephedrine), which are prohibited in-competition but are susceptible to unintentional doping offences because of their general availability in medicinal products or because they are unlikely to enhance performance. Again, the onus is on the player to show that the substance was not intended to aid sporting performance. In-competition testing in football is defined as match-day testing.

The FA will also continue with its out-of-competition Social Drugs programme, which goes beyond the scope of WADA.

Last season over 1700 tests were carried out by The FA, by far the most comprehensive testing programme in British sport. The tests are allied to extensive drug and alcohol education and awareness activities.