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VERDICT
Having looked at the evidence, my only real problem is with the fact that 8 months seems like such a random number. I think 6 months would have been a sufficient ban, but I also feel that perhaps the F.A should have gone the whole way and banned him for 2 years. The Negouai case is a non-factor, because, as I have said, the panel accepted his excuse, while they rejected Ferdinand's. I do feel perhaps Negouai should have been punished further, but the fact that he now has to face regular drugs tests for the next 2 years should prove his innocence. Ferdinand, is probably innocent of taking drugs, but his whole case was built on someone else's mistake, not his own, his excuse is not acceptable, and he has faced the penalty for it. I must add that the next time something like this comes up is crucial to everything I have written here. If someone does a similar thing to Ferdinand, i.e Missing an Unannounced drugs test for seemingly no reason, and ends up recieving a fine, or a ban of say 3 months, then I will put my hands up and agree with the Rob Harvey's of this world who think it is harsh. I think this is the precedent that is being set down for this type of case, and that future cases will be dealt with on this basis. I also think that if a player tests positive in the English game for a banned performance enhancing drug, and did actually take it (i.e like Dwain Chambers and not Greg Rusedski) then they should be banned to the full extent of the law, i.e 2 years. If the Italian F.A want to do what they are doing, that's for the Italian F.A to sort out, not us. FIFA and UEFA need to step in and sort these things out, but as it is, I feel that Rio's ban is fair for what he has done.
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