Let the speculation begin,
A professional footballer has been banned for two years for refusing to take a drugs test, but his identity is being kept secret for fear he may harm himself.
The player, who is not well-known, flatly refused to provide a sample of urine when testers from anti-doping agency UK Sport visited his club.
He was suspended for two years by a Football Association disciplinary commission, and under normal circumstances the governing body would make his name public.
Under the FA's agreement with UK Sport, however, there is a clause which states the player will not be named if the disciplinary commission determines there is a risk of self-harm.
UK Sport reviewed the FA's decision not to name him and agreed that there was a risk to the player's mental and physical health if he were named.
It is only the second time a footballer has been suspended for failing to comply with a drugs test since Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand was banned for eight months in 2004.
A year later, Torquay's Icelandic international goalkeeper Olafur Gottskalksson was banned indefinitely by the FA for refusing to take a drugs test.
After viewing the list of banned substances, he left the club and never returned or played professional football again.
Two points, do people agree with the not naming the player? I think it's fair enough if it could be preventing harm so long as clubs and whatnot know that the player is banned and can't sign them.
And 8 months for ferdinand and they still complain.
A professional footballer has been banned for two years for refusing to take a drugs test, but his identity is being kept secret for fear he may harm himself.
The player, who is not well-known, flatly refused to provide a sample of urine when testers from anti-doping agency UK Sport visited his club.
He was suspended for two years by a Football Association disciplinary commission, and under normal circumstances the governing body would make his name public.
Under the FA's agreement with UK Sport, however, there is a clause which states the player will not be named if the disciplinary commission determines there is a risk of self-harm.
UK Sport reviewed the FA's decision not to name him and agreed that there was a risk to the player's mental and physical health if he were named.
It is only the second time a footballer has been suspended for failing to comply with a drugs test since Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand was banned for eight months in 2004.
A year later, Torquay's Icelandic international goalkeeper Olafur Gottskalksson was banned indefinitely by the FA for refusing to take a drugs test.
After viewing the list of banned substances, he left the club and never returned or played professional football again.
Two points, do people agree with the not naming the player? I think it's fair enough if it could be preventing harm so long as clubs and whatnot know that the player is banned and can't sign them.
And 8 months for ferdinand and they still complain.
RAFA 
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