FA brands UKAD doping comments 'misleading'
by Matthew Campelli | 22 Jan 2016
Bailey revealed that the FA conducted 2,286 tests during the 2014/15 season / Football Association
The Football Association (FA) has accused the chief of UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) of making “unhelpful” and “misleading” comments about football being “at risk” of doping.
During an interview with the BBC, Nicole Sapstead said that the combination of big salaries, fanbase, ticket sales, broadcasting rights and the “physical demands” of football meant that the doping posed a “risk” to the sport.
“Add that into a nice big mix and you’ve got everything pointing to a doping issue,” she added.
However, the FA’s director of football governance and administration Darren Bailey said the “speculative comments” could create the wrong impression, while adding that “no other national governing body in the UK dedicates as much resource to prevent doping in its sport”.
Revealing that the FA has conducted 2,286 tests in the 2014/15 season, Bailey added: “Drug testing is conducted both in and out of competition on a no-notice basis including at the players’ home addresses. The testing programme is intelligence based and targeted.
“All samples are analysed by the UKAD and the FA works closely with them to share all relevant information and maintain full transparency.”
Bailey also revealed that there had been “exceptionally few unusual results” in English football – “none which have so far suggested a doping issue”.
Sapstead suggested that she would like to talk to Arsenal Football Club manager Arsene Wenger after the Frenchman said that he did not believe that football was immune to doping problems in an interview last year.
“We discussed the matter with Mr Wenger some weeks ago when the comments were made and both agree this is an extremely important subject,” added Bailey.
“However, just as UKAD confirmed, the FA has no current information to suggest the public cannot trust the measures we have put in place nor should anyone think English football would ever get complacent to the risks of doping.”
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FEATURE: Thought Leaders – Match-fixing is as grave a threat as doping
The Football Association (FA) has accused the chief of UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) of making “unhelpful” and “misleading” comments about football being “at risk” of doping. During an interview with the BBC, Nicole Sapstead said that the combination of big salaries, fanbase, ticket sales, broadcasting rights and the “physical demands” of football meant that the doping posed a “risk” to the sport. “Add that into a nice big mix and you’ve
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