RIO Ferdinand could have his eight month ban for missing a drug test increased if the World Anti-Doping Agency gets its way.
The Manchester United defender is considering whether to appeal against the eight-month suspension imposed by Football Association, set to begin on January 20, after he failed to attend a random test at the club's Carrington training ground on September 23.
But WADA chairman Dick Pound has already a fierce attack on FIFA's apparent reluctance to sign up to a worldwide code on drugs.
And now Denmark's sports minister Brian Mikkelson, a member of the WADA executive committee, has called for Ferdinand's case to be examined by the Court of Arbitration in Sport, in Switzerland, and for the England international's ban to be lengthened.
"It is a solid case and our goal would be to raise Ferdinand's ban to two years," Mikkeleson said in the Daily Express.
"His sentence is too mild. The same rules that apply in other sports should also apply in football.
"I am going to contact the other members of WADA and we will make sure the case goes all the way to the Court of Arbitration in Sport."
WADA wants a longer ban for Rio - have your say.
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What a shame we can't aim abuse on this site to people who know FA, butt in and deserve to be told where to go.
Yet another outsider having his say without seeing any evidence, Why have so many people got it in for Rio. Did these people have anything to say when Merson admitted taking cocain or when Davids, Stam and others actually failed drug tests. We should just let this lie now and not apeal because it is obvious that a fair trial will never happen, Actually if this was a court of law the whole case would have to be thrown out due to outside influences on it.
The WADA organisation should set about sorting out those who do take drugs performance enhancing or otherwise in the sports they do have power over (e.g. athletics) before sticking their big nose into Rio's case.
WADA..loud of c--p...!
If Rio's is to sit out the next 8 months on full pay he should set about sueing these idiots ie Pound, Mikkelson and Splatter for defamation of character, slander etc.
I think an early posting has already mentioned that if RF did take this to the law courts it would be thrown out due to these outside influences.
Where were these guys when the afore mentioned Stam, Davids, Couto and co actually failed drugs tests now if ever there was a case for an extended ban then surely that was it!
At first I was surprised at the stupidity of RF, then resigned for him to accept his punishment then move on...now with all these faceless lunatics more or less treating RF like a criminal...I say RF if you read this take them to the cleaners, as an individual you have rights, these guys are personally setting you up.
PS all this talk about FIFA saying in their rules that you are not allowed to take them to court...you know why they threatened allsorts because they know they will loose and look even more stupid than ever.
Get at em Rio all reds fans are right behind you!
What legal authority does WADA have over the FA and soccer? What authority does WADA have to try Rio in Switzerland. Do they actually have a legal leg to stand on?
We should all write letters of complaint to WADA for interfereing in affairs that are not theirs. Maybe RIO could sue WADA for its comments.
"....But WADA chairman Dick Pound has already a fierce attack on FIFA's apparent reluctance to sign up to a worldwide code on drugs"
So fifa aren't even signed up members of WADA then?
And where was WADA when the City player received a B#2000 fine for the offence? It seems everyone wants the rules enforced to the maximun where UTD players are concerned.
I'm sick and tired of the double standards with regards to the way the FA have handled this case, they couldn't even appoint an independent body to oversee the outcome.
I hope UTD fight this all the way through the courts.
Lets say Rio was continental and he had actually taken drugs his ban would not have even been 8months its just anti English
It's absurd to say that a 2 year ban for an athlete is equivalent to a 2 year ban on a footballer, given that an athlete will run in only 5 to 10 competitive races a year, while a footballer can be playing 50 games a year. Dick Pound really does live up to his name.
Dick Pound should take a good look at his own country and the anti-drug policies of the NHL - Canada's National Game. Looking back I remember him stating "the standard punishment for serious doping offences would be two years." when the policies were first put in place. I also remember that idiot Blatter disagreed and was unhappy with the two year ban. What gives?? One law for Rio and one for the rest? If Pound intends to ban football from the Olympics I suggest he also ban Baseball and Ice Hockey.
The ban is too short? Compared to what? The ban Davids, Stam, etc received? The ban is too short compared to the "let off" the fella from Rushden & Diamonds got, or is it too short compared to the B#2k fine Neguoia got?
I donot understand. How is it too short?
Why does anyone take any notice of WADA. They carry no weight with FIFA because FIFA wont sign up to their drug testing procedures and sanctions. So Dick Pound shut up bleating about a topic you have no reference to. As for Blatter, well he just wants to sort out the FA for opposing his re-election
Headline in the english newspaper here...'Argentine Puerta (tennis player) banned for 9 months for doping'...no comments from Dick Pound, Splatter or any one else!
There are so many precidents that can be used in an appeal for Rio and any lawyer worth his salt will kill this dead...the main cause for concern is how can RF get banned for 8 mths for missing a test (yep we all know its wrong) yet athletes from the same sport and now tennis get 4mths, 5mths and 9 months ....now these are the people who should be threatened with an increased ban to 2 years????
Take it all the way RF your on a winner.....take it to the highest court in the land!
I wonder if WADA will now interfere in the Rudeski drug test results. They can't stop interferring in matters they have no jurisdiction over, but of course Rudeski is small beer compared to Manchester United who carry headlines all over the world. WADA are just attention seekers.