The FA is the most INEPT organization in Sports

? How obvious? Wheres the proof he didnt take them?
They FA had no other choice-

 

The FA took the choice to not ban and only fine a Man City player 2K earlier this year for the exact same offence.

 

It'll be down to 3-4 months after an appeal.

It looks to me like when you buy something on holiday....

The FA say 8 months
Rio's people counter with something much lower
...Then they agree on 3 or 4 months.

 

or maybe the FA was making up for the joke fines handed to Man U for the Arsenal fiasco....?

 

This is overreaction based on the whole THG fiasco. Every orginization needs to now be seen as tough on drugs, so what you're going to see in the future is that missing a test will be equated with failing a test. It should go down on appeal, probably to the remainder of the Premiership season.

 

This is an utter joke, but the FA took months to get around to this, so it isnt a suprise. I could care less about ManU and dont care what happens here, but the FA comes off looking arbitrary, dimwitted, and slow in its disciplineary matters. I dont think they know what they are doing, they just blunder around like buffoons and pull a punishment out of a hat whenever they feel like it, usually so long after the offense they forget what actually happened.

 

Basically, it all boils down to the presumption of guilt. Much like refusing to take a breathalyzer, or other field sobriety test will lead to a presumption that you are driving drunk, missing (or refusing to take) a drug test will lead to the presumption that you are doing drugs.

The essential fact is: when was Rio contacted that he needed to take a test, and when did the testers leave. If the testers left before Rio had been contacted, then it's all on him. And even if the testers did know he had been contacted, Rio was told that he needed to give a urine sample, and if he leaves, then I'm not sure that the testers have any obligation to wait for him to return.

When you look at worldwide penalties for this type of offense (a 2-year ban), technically, he got off easy. This will come down on appeal, though even if it does, I'm not sure that Rio plays Euro 2004, because if he does, it'll cause even more of a media circus in Portugal. I'd say that, at least, he misses the rest of the Premiership season, and he is not selected for Euro 2004, for a cop-out reason, like lacking match fitness, or something similar.

 

Firstly.. dont know where anyone gets the idea, that its obvious that he didnt take drugs...

From my point of view, lets pretend, i say its perfectly obvious to me and anyone else, that hed had a good old snort the night before, and realised he would fail a drugs test, so wanted some time to get them out of his system...

If they dont ban him what example does it set....

Great.. have a few lines on a friday night, no worries... As long as you do a bunk when its time for the test, and promise to take it later once your systems clean.... youre fine

should have been bluddy longer if you ask me... Cant wait to hear fergies reaction on it...

Now what happens about all those points they gained while rio was still playing for man utd... seems to me like theyve benefited from having a "guilty, player who has avoided a drugs test" on there team...

 

What a *#*#*#*#ing idiot you are. The fact that Ferdinand contacted the club and offered to return to take the test whilst the testers where still there, well, that dosent sound like the actions of somebody who had a "good old snort" the night before.

 

Sports federations around the world are getting the message that they need to get tough on drugs. If you have a mandatory drug test, you need to show up. What incentive do people have to show up for the drug tests at the mandated time if there are no teeth? Well, in England, if the FA follows through with this, players now know that there is a consequence, and a pretty severe one, if you don't show up for a drug test when you are requested to show up. Fortunately, the FA will be consistant on this if it happens again. In the future, players WILL show up for their drug tests or else they will receive long suspensions.

 

NO RIO in the england defense for euro 2004

ouch make sure campbell cole and terry stay healthy otherwise englands defense will be a joke

 

Perhaps the clubs will even make reminder calls about tests and maybe even send a car..

 

The moral of the story is if it involves drugs and the integrity of the sport, whether you're innocent or guilty, whether you're the reserve player of a bottom-table club or, say, Rio Ferdinand, you don't f*** around.

Especially if you're Rio Ferdinand.

 

does anyone think that rio was really on dope.

at wc2002 he was really strong and was a presence
but recently if you look at him he looks alot skinnier and worn out!!!!!

Does anyone else see this.
I think they know he was on it thats why he received such a harsh penalty but rather than revealing it which would further his image even more they gave him a lengthy suspension.

 

Watch out world soccer (Rio Ban)

I think Man Utd wont take this "Arsenal sorry FA" (same thing really) ruling laying down and will fight back with avengence, by using every possible legal or Ilegal method to Obtain a replacement for RIO, from a Premier source or Foriegn, I say this because this would annoy the FA/Arsenal the most, for Man Utd to carry on without Rio and win the Premier League, I belive thats what Rio wants as well, 40 Million 50 million who cares as long as we get a replacement "comon you Reds". Thats whats this is all about stopping ManUtd from winning the Premiership and the Champions league. To Manchester United football club lets do it now to hell with the money. Just imagine when we win the Premiership in May how we could deride the Football Accociation/ Arsenal FC and all It would be very sweet indeed.

 

I honestly do think that he had taken an 'illegal substance'.
Perhaps not a 'performance enharncing' drug but something which whould have shown up on a drug's test.

 

no, if you're average joe player and not involved with england you can f*** around... you only get some puny fine.

 

I agree, I also don't think that he was doping up on anything. However, just the APPEARANCE of impropriety in this day where drugs is such a problem in soccer and other sports means that you have to take this stuff dead seriously. If you miss a drug test, you must be punished. This is the only way that sport is going to clean itself from the image of its players/athletes using drugs.

 

Not any more.

 

That's it! He's a crackhead! Rio wasn't himself last season, but has been amongst the best defenders in the EPL this season. I'd say he's taken some recreational drugs in his time (haven't we all) but I'm talking when he was a teenager. These days I highly doubt he's that stupid.

 

beats me how the **** his suspension doesnt start until january.. seems completely ******** farcicle that man utd can play tommorow with a player who has been found guilty of "avoiding a drugs test" and who is about to serve a ban...Seems completely and utterly ridiculous...

If you fail a breathaliser and go to court.. they dont say, oooh.. you can drive for the next couple of weeks, but then your banned for 8 months...

If you are found guilty of murder they dont say "hmmm.. walk the streets for a hile, but if you could kindly turn up at prison in a month or so wed like to lock you up..."

 

Yeah, those 'joke' players Southgate, Woodgate and Upson would certainly be an embarrassment to any defence....

 

Re: Watch out world soccer (Rio Ban)

Dickhead