Premier League players face increased drug testing

The Football Association, working with UK Anti-Doping, undertook more than 3,250 drug tests last year according to 'The Guardian', this year, however, they are looking to increase that number to over 5,000.

The same source states that at least 39% of players in the Football League were not tested last year, despite football having the biggest anti-doping budget of any sport in the UK.

With Athletics engrossed in scandal after sacandal, the FA are keen to avoid a repeat. They plan to double the number of tests conducted and to focus their resources on certain teams or players depending on the intelligence they receive.

Players can be tested without being forewarned, with samples being split into two categories: 'in competiton' and 'not in competition'.

Currently players are tested for both performance-enhancing substances and recreational ones, though positive tests for the latter don't usually result in the player being named as the FA prefers to try to rehabilitate the player involved.