A SORRY TALE

There may be more to Gordon Taylor's latest pronouncements on the evils of drug testing than simply another attack on the system that threatens English football's cosy self-image.

The Professional Footballers' Association chief executive said this week that the imposition of an effective out-of-competition testing regime would infringe his members' human rights and said that he would consider strike action were it to be enforced.

His comments have caused consternation at UK Sport, the body responsible for British sport's anti-doping regime, notwithstanding Taylor's well-established antipathy to drug testing of footballers - he was Rio Ferdinand's biggest supporter before the Manchester United defender's eight-month ban for missing a test - and his belief that English football does not have a drugs problem.

Insiders believe his comments could have more to do with the looming threat that future funding will be withheld from football and other sports not fully compliant with the World Anti-Doping Agency's code on doping, which insists on out-of-competition testing.

Fifa is under pressure from Wada to adopt the code, with the sticking point the imposition of a mandatory two-year suspension on offenders, something the football authorities oppose. Meanwhile UK Sport is hoping to establish a system whereby players make their whereabouts known for one hour of every day for the purpose of testing.