Euro 2008 updates
Jun 4th, 2008 by Admin
In what is perhaps the strictest pre-tournament drug screening process international football has ever seen, all 16 teams taking part in the Euro 2008 have passed with flying colours.
An incredible 8 players from each team have been drug tested, with no positive tests. For the first time ever, both blood and urine tests have been included. European football authorities have been attempting to crack down on drug abuse, both of performance enhancing drugs as well as recreational ones.
The penalties for footballers caught can be huge – Rio Ferdinand was banned for 8 months for failing to attend a mandatory test after a premiership game. The ex West Ham youth player had been a record signing for Manchester United, who appealed the ban unsuccessfully.
UEFA have indicated that they will continue to test two players from each team after every match, with severe penalties for anyone caught. They will announce further details of their full testing programme before Saturdays Euro 2008 opener between the hosts Switzerland and the Czech Republic.
