Manchester United star Rio Ferdinand said he was "absolutely devastated" after being left off England's squad for the crucial Euro 2004 qualifier against Turkey because he failed to take a random drug test.
Ferdinand, the world's most expensive defender, was summoned to a Football Association hearing next Monday to explain why he missed a routine doping control at Manchester United's training ground last month.
If found guilty of a doping offense, Ferdinand could face a ban of up to two years.
The FA said it would be "inappropriate" for Ferdinand to play against Turkey on Saturday and ruled him ineligible for selection by coach Sven-Goran Eriksson.
"I am absolutely devastated by this situation," Ferdinand said in a statement Tuesday evening. "I want to take this opportunity to categorically state that I have never used drugs or condoned the use of drugs in sport or in society."
Manchester United sharply criticized the FA's handling of the case and hinted it could pursue legal action. The uncertainty over Ferdinand's status prompted Eriksson to postpone the naming of his squad from Sunday until early Tuesday afternoon.
Ferdinand, a 24-year-old central defender who is normally an automatic starter, was left off the 24-man list.
"I have been routinely tested like all players throughout my career and the results have always been the same: negative, like the most recent test," Ferdinand said. "I have worked hard from a young age to get where I am and to be left out of the squad at this crucial stage is devastating."
FA spokesman Paul Barber said Ferdinand was one of four Manchester United players selected at random for drug tests conducted by UK Sport on Sept. 23.
Ferdinand failed to provide a sample, violating the FA's anti-doping rules and triggering a disciplinary case, Barber said.
The FA contacted Ferdinand by letter last Friday and has had discussions with the player, Manchester United officials and the Professional Footballers' Association, he said.
"Given the seriousness with which the FA views breaches of its doping control regulations, the imminent England squad announcement and the importance of Saturday's match, the FA has concluded that it is inappropriate for Rio Ferdinand to be available for selection for England at this time," Barber said, reading a statement at a news conference.
Barber said the disciplinary process would proceed without the FA "making any judgment whatsoever."
Eriksson said he was "very, very sorry" that he couldn't select Ferdinand.
"I'm a football manager and I always want the best team," he said. "It's a pity for England as a team, of course. It's a decision that's been taken. I have to respect it and accept it."
Manchester United issued a statement accusing the FA of breaching confidentiality rules.
"As of today, Rio has still not been charged with an offense, and precedent suggests that he should continue to be available to represent England until at least a disciplinary finding has been made against him by the FA," a club statement said.
Manchester United chief executive David Gill added: "The club is deeply troubled by the FA's handling of the situation and believes it at variance with the FA's approach to all other drugs-related cases.
"We think the FA's decision not to select Rio is wrong for the player and wrong for the country."
In a veiled threat of possible legal action, Gill said, "We will be vigorously pursuing our concerns about the matter in due course."
Bologna on Thursday advanced past Empoli to reach their first Coppa Italia final in more than half a century. Thijs Dallinga’s 87th-minute header earned Bologna a 2-1 win and his side advanced 5-1 on aggregate. Giovanni Fabbian opened the scoring for Bologna with a header seven minutes in. Then Viktor Kovalenko equalized for Empoli in the 30th minute by turning in a rebound to finish off a counterattack. Bologna won the first leg 3-0. In the May 14 final in Rome, Bologna are to face AC Milan, who eliminated city rivals Inter 4-1 on aggregate following a 3-0 win on Wednesday. Bologna last reached the
If the Wild finally break through and win their first playoff series in a decade, Minnesota’s top line likely will be the reason. They were all over the Golden Knights through the first two games of their NHL Western Conference quarter-finals series, which was 1-1 going back to Minnesota for Game 3 today. The Wild tied the series with a 5-2 win on Tuesday. Matt Boldy had three goals and an assist in the first two games, while Kirill Kaprizov produced two goals and three assists. Joel Eriksson Ek, who centers the line, has yet to get on the scoresheet. “I think the biggest
From a commemorative jersey to a stadium in his name, Argentine soccer organizers are planning a slew of tributes to their late “Captain” Pope Francis, eulogized as the ultimate team player. Tributes to the Argentine pontiff, a lifelong lover of the game, who died on Monday at the age of 88, have been peppered with soccer metaphors in his homeland. “Francisco. What a player,” the Argentine Football Federation (AFA) said, describing the first pope from Latin America and the southern hemisphere as a generational talent who “never hogged the ball” and who showed the world “the importance of having an Argentine captain,
Noelvi Marte on Sunday had seven RBIs and hit his first career grand slam with a drive off infielder Jorge Mateo, while Austin Wynn had a career-high six RBIs as the Cincinnati Reds scored their most runs in 26 years in a 24-2 rout of the Baltimore Orioles. Marte finished with five hits, including his eighth-inning homer off Mateo. Wynn hit a three-run homer in the ninth off catcher Gary Sanchez. Cincinnati scored its most runs since a 24-12 win against the Colorado Rockies on May 19, 1999, and finished with 25 hits. Baltimore allowed its most runs since a 30-3 loss to
RSS