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Rio charged over missed drugs test
LONDON, England -- Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has been charged with misconduct by the English Football Association for skipping a drugs test. Ferdinand looks to have escaped a more serious charge of "willfully" avoiding the doping control but could still face a lengthy ban. The controversy spilled over into England's preparations for their Euro 2004 qualifier against Turkey with players threatening to strike in support of Ferdinand. Ferdinand, who will face FA officials to answer the charges, claimed that he simply "forgot" to attend the routine drugs test at United's training ground. "The FA has today charged Rio Ferdinand with misconduct for a breach of FA Rule E26, with reference to Regulation 1(c) of the FA Doping Control Regulations..." the FA confirmed on their website "Regulation 1(c) refers to "the failure or refusal by a player to submit to drug testing as required by a competent official". "The charge relates to the selection of Rio Ferdinand to submit to out-of-competition testing on 23rd September 2003 as part of The FA's Doping Control Programme. "Rio Ferdinand has 14 days to respond to the charge. " The FA Rule E26 states that: "A Participant shall comply with the provisions of any doping control regulations as shall be in force from time to time as determined by the Council." Defender has already paid a big priceFerdinand subsequently gave a negative test some 36 hours later, but that was not enough to satisfly the FA who ordered England manager Sven Goran Eriksson not to pick him for the goalless draw in Turkey. The decision led to an unprecedented furore in the England camp, but faced with a firm stance by new FA chief executive Mark Palios, the players backed down and settled for a strongly worded statement, airing their grievances. Since the Turkey game, the FA has been gathering evidence in the case, believed to center around Ferdinand's mobile phone records on the day he missed the drugs test. Palios' stance has garnered strong support from FIFA president Sepp Blatter, but the FA face the possibility of legal action from Manchester United if Ferdinand is eventually handed a punitive ban. England's preparations for the Euro 2004 finals in Portugal might also be affected, with Ferdinand a key member of the national team that qualified with a goalless draw in Turkey. The player will also sit out the friendly international against Denmark on 16 November. United have said they will back Ferdinand all the way. And the outcome is likely to rest heavily on the precedent set last season when Manchester City player Christian Negouai missed a drugs test and escaped with a £2,000 fine.
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