RIO BAN UPHELD

Last updated : 19 March 2004 By Editor

Ferdinand told the Sun:

“I’m absolutely devastated at this verdict. The panel have
said I am not a drug taker. The main thing keeping me going
throughout this has been the possibility of playing again
this season. This verdict has taken that hope away from me.

“I won’t feel happy until I am back in competitive football.
At the end of the day I am a footballer and I want to play
football for a living. I would like to thank my lawyers and
the club for supporting me through this. Now I have to sit
down and come to terms with what has happened.”

Maurice Watkins:

“Rio is naturally very disappointed with this as we believe
the suspension of eight months is unduly harsh and
unprecedented. That remains his view.”

David Gill:

“The decision has been taken to uphold his eight-month ban,
we have put a short statement out saying we are disappointed
and are going to sleep on it.”

Panel spokesman Nick Barron:

“In reaching our conclusion, the appeal board discounted the
possibility that Mr Ferdinand's reasons for not taking the
test were drug-related. But having considered the matter
very fully, the appeal board have today dismissed Mr
Ferdinand's appeals, both against conviction and sanction.
They have also rejected the FA's contention that the period
of suspension should be increased.

“Accordingly, Mr Ferdinand will remain suspended until
September 20, 2004.”

Ferdinand’s agent, Pini Zahavi:

“I’m very upset. This is totally unfair.”

A club statement said:

“We are disappointed given the nature of the appeal. As the
detailed judgment has not yet been received, it is
impossible at this stage for the club to make any further
comment.”

And out come the former players:

Frank Stapleton:

“This is a big surprise. I do not think the club would have
gone ahead with the appeal if they didn’t think they had a
good chance of winning. They put in a lot of time and effort
and nothing has changed.

“They thought the ban was savage first time round — so I
just wonder how they feel about it now.”

Denis Irwin said:

“It’s not really a surprise - the FA have taken a firm
stance over this from day one. We’ve seen how badly Rio has
been missed and he’ll want to get back as soon as possible.
But I think to get banned for eight months for missing a
test is very severe.”

Alex Stepney:

“I am sick about what has happened. FIFA and everyone has
got on board and put pressure on — he didn’t stand a chance.
I don’t know how Rio must be feeling — it’s not as if he has
taken drugs. But the FA wanted to make an example of
someone.”

Paul Parker:

“If I was Rio, I would leave it alone now. I cannot see any
point now in him pursuing it any further. It’s not going to
change. He just has to acclimatise to the fact that he’s not
going to play. He has to keep himself right and look forward
to the day when he can kick a ball again. He has got to
serve the full eight months and get through it.

“I didn’t believe for a minute the ban would be reduced, not
in the current climate because everyone is talking about
drugs in sport.”

Jaap Stam:

“I don’t know if it will be the same for Rio, but the most
difficult thing of all is the sense of injustice inside.
That makes it harder because it is not easy to deal with.
You don’t know what to do with yourself and there is no way
to cure it.

“It’s not going to be easy for him because you cannot really
get away from it because football goes on. I’m just thankful
I’m through that now. For me the nightmare is over. I have
come through it and Rio will come through it as well.”

Everyone’s favourite Dick weighs in, Dick Pound, president
of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), said:

“I think he continues to dodge a bullet as there was a great
chance that the penalty could have been increased. A player
at his level in a team at that level knows there's an anti-
doping programme and does not just forget to go for a test.”