unit, yesterday. During a three-hour meeting in Manchester,
he indicated his defence to charges of missing the drugs
test and later released a statement:
MORE RIO NEWS
unit, yesterday. During a three-hour meeting in Manchester,
he indicated his defence to charges of missing the drugs
test and later released a statement:
'In accordance with the FA procedures and timetable, I
participated today in an FA interview and provided the
association with a full and detailed explanation of my
failure to take a random test on September 23.
participated today in an FA interview and provided the
association with a full and detailed explanation of my
failure to take a random test on September 23.
'My explanation dealt with a number of issues, including the
reasons why I failed to attend the test and my attempts to
rectify the situation with a test that same day. I also
reiterated my condemnation of drugs in sport.'
reasons why I failed to attend the test and my attempts to
rectify the situation with a test that same day. I also
reiterated my condemnation of drugs in sport.'
The FA won’t be rushed into making a decision, and Ferdinand
may have to wait for seven days to learn his fate. They have
also requested his phone records for the day in question.
Should they prove that his phone was switched off for
several hours after training, it will help Rio’s mitigation
that he forgot about the test.
may have to wait for seven days to learn his fate. They have
also requested his phone records for the day in question.
Should they prove that his phone was switched off for
several hours after training, it will help Rio’s mitigation
that he forgot about the test.
David Gill announced yesterday that Ferdinand would still be
available for selection until the FA say otherwise:
"Rio will continue to be selected until such time as
whatever punishment is decided upon is meted out and begins.
"The manager and his United team-mates would want him to be
selected I am sure. As a club we'd be comfortable with him
being chosen. We clearly know the facts behind the case and
there is no moral dilemma.
"The club has reacted in the past when it felt it was
necessary to do so. United suspended Eric Cantona in 1995
following his unfortunate incident with a fan against
Crystal Palace. You take each case on its merits and there
is no requirement we feel not to carry on playing Rio if the
manager chooses him."
available for selection until the FA say otherwise:
"Rio will continue to be selected until such time as
whatever punishment is decided upon is meted out and begins.
"The manager and his United team-mates would want him to be
selected I am sure. As a club we'd be comfortable with him
being chosen. We clearly know the facts behind the case and
there is no moral dilemma.
"The club has reacted in the past when it felt it was
necessary to do so. United suspended Eric Cantona in 1995
following his unfortunate incident with a fan against
Crystal Palace. You take each case on its merits and there
is no requirement we feel not to carry on playing Rio if the
manager chooses him."
Meanwhile PFA Chief Gordon Taylor has urged the FA to deal
with the matter as quickly as possible. He accompanied Rio
to the meeting yesterday, and said afterwards:
with the matter as quickly as possible. He accompanied Rio
to the meeting yesterday, and said afterwards:
“Rio had the opportunity to explain what happened and why,
as well as his attempts to rectify the matter by taking
another test that same day. He is certainly taking it
seriously now and he took it very seriously the minute that
he remembered and made every attempt to get tested that same
day.
as well as his attempts to rectify the matter by taking
another test that same day. He is certainly taking it
seriously now and he took it very seriously the minute that
he remembered and made every attempt to get tested that same
day.
"Of course, they will want to see the evidence of that, with
the phone calls and so on. The FA are now assimilating that
evidence and will then make a decision. We would just hope
that this is carried out sooner rather than later so that
Rio is able to deal with this matter as quickly as
possible."
the phone calls and so on. The FA are now assimilating that
evidence and will then make a decision. We would just hope
that this is carried out sooner rather than later so that
Rio is able to deal with this matter as quickly as
possible."
The new FA chief Mark Palios has asked everyone to put their
differences aside over Rio Ferdinand's missed drugs test.
differences aside over Rio Ferdinand's missed drugs test.
Palios told the FA's website:
“The events of the past week have become one of the highest
profile issues in The FA's history and we need to ensure
that we learn from this experience too. I have initiated a
full review.
profile issues in The FA's history and we need to ensure
that we learn from this experience too. I have initiated a
full review.
“In the meantime, I will of course be meeting with
Manchester United and the PFA to ensure these important
footballing relationships move forward in the most positive
way. The crux of this matter is not about disagreements
between major footballing bodies, it concerns the importance
of The FA's anti-doping programme and The FA's right to
govern the game with integrity.
Manchester United and the PFA to ensure these important
footballing relationships move forward in the most positive
way. The crux of this matter is not about disagreements
between major footballing bodies, it concerns the importance
of The FA's anti-doping programme and The FA's right to
govern the game with integrity.
“And despite huge public and media pressure neither of these
points were negotiable. It is of course now time to move on.
Let's hope that Saturday night's result focuses everyone
back on the positive aspects of the English game.”
points were negotiable. It is of course now time to move on.
Let's hope that Saturday night's result focuses everyone
back on the positive aspects of the English game.”
Might be easier to ‘move on’ once this has finished!