Drugs test warning for SPL stars

03 March 2009 09:45
Strict new rules, which may be in force for the start of next season, are being brought in to make footballers as accountable as athletes. An elite pool of 30 players will be expected to be made available for testing for one hour every day at a location of their choosing. Should they fail to be at that location at the specified time, it will count as a missed test, with three missed tests resulting in a ban of up to two years. Wishart has already visited Celtic to explain the new rules and plans to speak to players from other SPL clubs. He said: "This is pretty dramatic stuff and it's fair to say some of the Celtic boys were left with their jaws hanging open because of how it will change their lives. "One of the Celtic boys asked me what he is supposed to do this summer because he is going to the States on holiday and plans to do a lot of driving around. He doesn't know where he will be from one day to the next. "I explained to him that he will simply have to supply the testers with all the information he has on a daily basis because if he doesn't, a warning light will flash up on someone's computer and they will come after you. "And when you consider the ban for anyone missing three tests is between one and two years you can see the need for the players to get their heads round this as quickly as possible. "While we are not 'pro drugs' we do feel this is way over the top and we believe certain allowances should be made for team sports. "But that does not look likely so it's up to us to educate the players about what is coming and make their responsibilities clear to them."

Source: Team_Talk