Fifa Asks For Drug Test Rethink

World football governing body FIFA has continued its demands for a change to the World Anti-Doping Agency’s new set of guidelines.

The governing body believes players should be exempt from testing outside of regular tournaments. It also advocates a relaxation of WADA’s new ‘whereabouts’ code, with testers given the advance locations of teams rather than individual players.

WADA president John Fahey rejected the suggested modifications last month, however after a meeting in Geneva, his FIFA counterpart Sepp Blatter announced that he would send a second letter to Wada appealing for a rethink.

‘We’re surprised that through certain statements there won’t be exceptions whatever the sport. The team sports are in total agreement. It’s not a question of not fighting doping, but one should not have a witchhunt.’

A FIFA statement outlined a proposal where doping testers would be able to visit team training facilities six days a week with a hiatus between the end and start of the season ‘so that the privacy of players can be respected’.

But Fahey has been adamant that any compromise on the new system, which requires athletes to provide details of where they will be for an hour a day both in and out of season, would allow scope for cheating.

UEFA president Michel Platini has supported FIFA’s opposition to the full WADA regime, suggesting a 20-day holiday for players during their break.