Rio Ferdinand, England National Footballer, Excluded - 2003-10-08

The preparations of the England national football team for their crucial match against Turkey in the Euro 2004 qualifiers have been thrown into complete disarray after Rio Ferdinand, the national player, was excluded by Sven-Göran Eriksson, the team's head coach, following his absence for a drug and doping test. The exclusion of this key defender for the England national football team and Manchester United coincided with the fact that Michael Owen, the team's main striker, has not yet recovered from his recent leg injury and will not be ready in time for the match next Saturday against Turkey in Istanbul. This is the biggest match for England since they lost to Brazil in the quarter-finals of the World Cup last summer. If England loses to Turkey, they will automatically not qualify for the Euro 2004 finals. The Football Association, despite Eriksson's protests, ruled that it would be inappropriate for Rio Ferdinand to play against Turkey because he was absent for a drug and doping test last month. Ferdinand claims he forgot to provide the sample requested by the Football Association because at that time - on September 23 - he was busy moving into his new home. Manchester United has supported their defender's statement, saying that he took the test within 36 hours of the Football Association's initial request and passed it successfully. However, the Football Association states that Ferdinand's action apparently represents a serious violation of the association's anti-doping regulations, and disciplinary action may be taken against him, which could lead to a suspension of up to 2 years. Paul Barber, the marketing and communications director at the Football Association, stated that given the seriousness with which the association views the breach of its doping control regulations, it has concluded that Ferdinand's availability for selection for the England team is inappropriate.