Mamadou Sakho

[EwarWoo]

Collymore (I know, I know!), was implying on Twiter that fat burners (and all diuretics), are used to mask performance enhancing drugs, such as anabolic steroids, which is why the punishment for them is just as heavy as steroids etc.

Or maybe it's because many of them contain amphetimines such as oxilofrine.

[Exiled_red]

Does the club not routinely do drug tests on players? I would have thought with so much money in the game that clubs should be doing this regularly, so that if anyone is caught using something they shouldn't it can be dealt with internally, and long term bans from governing bodies aren't a concern (whether you want to keep the player or sell him as a result).

[calvoboy]

Does the club not routinely do drug tests on players? I would have thought with so much money in the game that clubs should be doing this regularly, so that if anyone is caught using something they shouldn't it can be dealt with internally, and long term bans from governing bodies aren't a concern (whether you want to keep the player or sell him as a result).

They don't but I've always thought that they should from an anti-doping point of view, not just a club protection one. With the amount of money in the game, why doesn't UKAD insist on monthly testing and preserved samples at each club? It'd cost a tiny percentage of the amount of money that's in the game and would ensure you could market a clean sport.

[EwarWoo]

I'd imagine it's a trust thing. Doing regular drug testing is like saying we don't trust you.

And I don't think the problem is wide enough to warrant that.

[calvoboy]

I'd imagine it's a trust thing. Doing regular drug testing is like saying we don't trust you.

And I don't think the problem is wide enough to warrant that.

I think the problem is that we really don't know. Footballers are hardly ever tested, which is why it's even more surprising that Sakho was caught and Ferdinand had to do a bunk. And there are loads of rumours linking the Spanish teams and national side to Operacion Puerto, which would coincide with the period when they won the Euros and World Cup...

I don't see why footballers should be any more or less trustworthy than athletes, or cyclists, but unlike those sports there's enough money in football to be sure by insisting on regular tests.

[EwarWoo]

They don't have regular tests, they have random tests. And I don't think anyone would have any issues with that.

But the club also doing regular tests is a bit mother doesn't trust you.

[calvoboy]

They don't have regular tests, they have random tests. And I don't think anyone would have any issues with that.

But the club also doing regular tests is a bit mother doesn't trust you.

Not if every club is told to do it by UKDA - that's what I was suggesting, not us doing it off our own back without others doing it too.

For me the issue with random tests is their regularity. Over the course of a whole season in the Premiership in 2014-15 366 first-team squad players were tested, out of a total of around 530. So around a third were not tested at all, and the vast majority of those who were tested will only have been tested once. That's pathetic given the amount of money in the game, and the rewards on offer.

[Fivex]

Surprised there's been no mention of that 'doctor' who was in the papers recently claiming to have doped hundreds of sportspeople?

[EwarWoo]

I'd just rather see random tests stepped up rather than it pushed back on the club.

[Bender]

[ame]https://twitter.com/thisisanfield/status/724618542172139520[/ame]

[Tribute]

https://twitter.com/thisisanfield/st...18542172139520

Carra hinting at this being Sakhos' negligence/stupidity - won't know which until tomorrow's sample is tested, I guess

[el matador]

I would say its a bit strange the club possibly briefing the press against one of its own star players but this is Liverpool and its happened plenty of times before.

[kev776]

For me it is very simple, if the B sample is positive and he has no explanation, he should be sacked. He is supposed to be a professional athlete, not a cheat.

[Nicey]

For me it is very simple, if the B sample is positive and he has no explanation, he should be sacked. He is supposed to be a professional athlete, not a cheat.

hard to argue with that

[RichC]

Depends on the circumstances really might not be as clear cut as he's a "drugs cheat" but hard to see much defence for him at the moment.