Anti-doping rules: how they handle the problem

Getting to grips with Football Association regulations is a challenge, especially since they have not yet been posted on the body's website. They are "coming soon", the organisation says.

FA doping rule 3.5 does state: "Club officials should make every effort to inform the player of his obligation to undergo drug testing. If a player fails and/or refuses to sign the Sample Collection Form (urine) and/or fails or refuses to report to provide a sample, he will be deemed to have committed a doping offence and may be subject to sanctions for misconduct in accordance with FA Rule E26."

It seems certain that Sven-Goran Eriksson will not pick Rio Ferdinand even though the FA have not yet decided whether to charge him.

The FA usually make no statement about a doping inquiry before they have been through all their proceedings, including a hearing. At present the FA and Manchester United are refusing to comment.

Technically, the defender could play on Saturday since he is yet to be charged and any hearing is not set to take place before next week.

But leaving him out will limit the controversy that would have dominated the build-up to the game.

In some sports, competitors are suspended pending a hearing but the FA are unlikely to take action against Ferdinand before they have completed their investigation, so they do not expose themselves to legal action.

OTHER SPORTS

It is rare for competitors to refuse to take a drugs test but athletics chiefs banned Olympic champion John Ngugi for four years.