Soccer: Drugs case angers PFA

Rio Ferdinand's drugs case could force the Professional Footballers' Association to pull out of their official testing programme with UK Sport.

The Manchester United defender faces a two-day hearing in Bolton this week to establish why he failed to take a test on September 23.

Despite his insistence that he merely forgot to attend the test, it is widely expected he will receive a three-month suspension.

United have continually insisted Ferdinand is guilty of nothing more than absent-mindedness and the player will be staunchly defended.

The PFA believes Ferdinand's name should never have been made public, and are treating the matter so seriously they are threatening to pull out of all official tests with UK Sport.