Memorandum submitted by the Professional
Footballers' Association
The Professional Footballers' Association, as
the players' representative, works very closely with the Football
Association in the drugs testing programme within the professional
game. I am aware that the Football Association have presented
a comprehensive written submission which details the PFA's involvement
in the testing programme. This clearly demonstrates that the PFA
fully support the fundamental aims of the programme in preventing
the use of prohibited substances to gain an unfair advantage and
also in the education of all players to the dangers of the use
of any prohibited substance, be it social and/or performance enhancing.
The PFA has recently been working very closely
with the Football Association with regard to their representation
to FIFA in ensuring that the implementation of the WDA code by
football does not have a detrimental effect on a very effective
testing programme which operates within the English game. The
PFA is also a member of FIFPro, the International Association
of Football Players' unions, who have recently approached FIFA
with regard to the possible implication of the implementation
of the WADA code. The FA submission gives details with regard
to the number of tests conducted since 1994 which identified only
one positive find for performance enhancing substances which is
a clear indication that the game does not have a problem with
regard to performance enhancing drugs. However, it does confirm
that football is faced with a social issue which is a reflection
on society in general and football needs to continue to develop
its drug education programme and the PFA is committed to working
with the football authorities to develop this programme.
With regard to drugs education and raising player
awareness of the possible dangers of drugs abuse, the PFA as the
main sponsor of the former England and Arsenal Captain Tony Adams'
charity Sporting Chance Clinic which offers rehabilitation programmes
to current and former members of the Association and also provides
seminars at professional clubs to speak with both senior and young
professional players, again a key area in the education of all
players.
The FA drug programme includes the PFA upon
notification of a positive find and the matter is then dealt with
giving consideration to the individual circumstances of the case
and also in strict confidence to ensure that the individual has
a fair hearing and opportunity to have his case properly considered.
It is the issue of confidentiality which has
been a major concern of the PFA, as the recent Rio Ferdinand case
highlights. When confidentiality is breached, especially before
an initial hearing or before a judgement is given, it is virtually
impossible for the individual involved to have a fair hearing.
The involvement of UK Sport in the testing programme, whilst ensuring
that the testing procedure of the samples is of the highest quality
using IOC accredited laboratories, raises concern over the publication
of quarterly test results which due to the high profile of the
game results in intense media interest and pressure.
There have also been concerns of more specific
details being released by UK Sport with regard to positive finds
and therefore the PFA would support the FA's stance in the need
to ensure that whichever body is involved in the testing programme
it should be done under the rules and regulations of the Football
Association.
With regard to the use of professional players
as role models in sport, the vast majority of our members accept
this added responsibility albeit this does not appear to be the
case in other parts of the entertainment industry such as music,
films and television or indeed other professions which young men
and women have reached the top of, be it Medicine, Law, Politics
or Academic.
We also have a media in this country which sets
out to destroy good reputations especially in football such as
is happening with David Beckham.
We are where we are, however, and mindful of
this role the PFA spends millions on courses aimed at giving young
professionals advice in Life Skills and media awareness and the
dangers of drugs and alcohol. Literally millions of pounds for
charity are raised by PFA members for such schemes as the Prince's
Trust and various children's charities and hospices for example
and football and its clubs and players are used very successfully
by the DfES, the DCMS and Home Office for many schemes to encourage
literacy, after school learning and crime prevention. Also as
far as I am aware professional footballers are the only profession
who willingly have in their contract a commitment to six hours
a week community work. It would also be fair to say that initiatives
started by the players and their union the PFA such as "Kick
Racism out of Soccer" have created a ripple effect for good
encouraging so many other such schemes in England and abroad and
indeed is an excellent "role model" for the integration
of more mixtures of players from different countries with different
culture, colour, background and creeds than any other in the world
and, at this moment in time, with the state of the world, such
a role model example is one of which I feel justly proud.
20 April 2004
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