Thank you! Now on to the topic of drug testing. Why should footballers be tested for recreational drugs by the FA? As far as I know no other professional body does this- what is this saying about footballers and the sport as a whole? Or if just an age/income related problem why not test everyone, regardless of profession, under 30 and earning over a certain amount?! I think this sends the wrong message about our sport. If footballers comit crime this should be dealt with by the police, if a club wants to implement a policy on drug use they should feel free to do so. Alcohol is legal, why should we test for that? If a club suspects an employee has a problem with alcohol (or drug) abuse then it is their responsibility to penalise/support the individual. I don't personally see the problem with supplements or anti-inflammatories to overcome injuries, although I think the risk of them masking the pain of a serious injury limits their abuse. As far as performance enhancing drugs go, anabolics such as laurabolin, I think they may be used more than we think. Its not just the drug that causes bulking but the training (train as a body builder and you will get bulk, train as a sprinter and you will get speed). They also help power and endurance and will not necessarily give you that 'ripped' look (look at pics of James Toney when he beat Johnny Ruiz.... and suspicion about a pending test for Tony Thompson when he recently beat David Price). A problem arises when these drugs are used dubiously as 'medical treatment' ie for muscle tears.
I think it quite likely that the use of recreational drugs in football is probably rather more prevalent than we may suspect. I don't know if you remember the "Spice Boys" era at Liverpool, but along with Fowler there was a LOT of rumours about their regular nights at Cream nightclub and a fairly heavy intake of all sorts of chemicals. Let alone Rio Ferdinand's 'forgotten test'.
This is always causing disagreement.amongst sports people I guess. They are randomly tested for performance enhancing drugs. Unfortunately the use of other drugs is also displayed in the tests. They cannot ignore the fact although I understand they do not necessary inform the police but they certainly inform the club. Isn't that what happened to, was it Merson of Arsenal? Didn't he have to go away on a drug rehabilitation course ...or am I talking out of my hat?
