UK Edition
Alexis Sanchez absent from Arsenal drugs test while completing Man Utd move
Alexis Sánchez was at the centre of an anti-doping controversy last night after allegedly missing a drugs test at Arsenal while completing his move to Manchester United.
An inquiry was underway into a potential breach of the Football Association’s whereabouts regulations with regard to the 29-year-old’s availability to provide a sample hours before joining United.
United, Arsenal and the FA all declined to comment on the case amid confusion last night about whether Sánchez was not present during a visit to the London club by doping control officers or whether he or either team had simply failed to keep the FA apprised of his movements.
Either offence could result in a strike for Sánchez or one or both teams, three of which within a 12-month period is deemed to be an anti-doping rule violation.
There is no suggestion Chile star Sánchez sought to evade a drugs test and it is possible he would have been unaware where he should have been at that time for testing purposes.
That is because clubs have assumed responsibility for informing the authorities of each of their players’ whereabouts.
If there has been any breach of the rules, it is almost certain to have been as the result of an administrative blunder linked to Sánchez’s transfer from Arsenal to United.
Manchester City and Bournemouth were both fined £35,000 each last season after failing to ensure their whereabouts information was accurate on three occasions within a 12-month period.
Those penalties were criticised as being too soft, prompting the FA to announce a review of its sanctions.
City’s doctor, Matthew Brown, also admitted in September that their breach had left a stigma.
He said: “We’re obviously not happy as a club because it does bring our badge into disrepute but these have been admin errors and there have been no specific anti-doping offences."