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Drug testing not carried out on many football players

New official figures reveal that a high percentage of football players who played in the English Football League (EFL) during the last season were not tested for drug use.UK Anti-Doping (Ukad) carries out drug testing on behalf of the Football Association. In 2015-16, Ukad took 1,204 samples from a total of 1,989 players who were due to appear in the EFL. Of those, 550 players who were due to appear in the Premier League, only 799 samples were taken. There were no drug tests on players in the National League, meaning that 39% of English Football League players were not tested for drugs during this period. In women’s football, there were only 36 samples taken from 169 female football players due to appear in the Women’s Super League One, meaning that 78% remained untested for drugs. These figures were released under the Freedom of Information Act.

UK Anti-Doping (Ukad) carries out drug testing on behalf of the Football Association. In 2015-16, Ukad took 1,204 samples from a total of 1,989 players who were due to appear in the EFL. Of those, 550 players who were due to appear in the Premier League, only 799 samples were taken. There were no drug tests on players in the National League, meaning that 39% of English Football League players were not tested for drugs during this period. In women’s football, there were only 36 samples taken from 169 female football players due to appear in the Women’s Super League One, meaning that 78% remained untested for drugs. These figures were released under the Freedom of Information Act.

The Football Association commented that it made its anti-doping programme a priority for the elite end of the game, saying that, “This applies not just to staggering downwards the number of tests per competition but also in terms of focusing attention around those players playing the most number of first-team minutes. In addition, the anti-doping programme is research and intelligence-led, meaning any player the FA believes presents a particular doping risk will be targeted.”

A Ukad spokesperson said that they place resources where these are deemed to be most effective and that they target those areas, which present the greatest risk of doping.

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