LONDON, Sept 8 - Premier League champions Chelsea
were charged by the Football Association on Thursday with
misconduct for allegedly breaching rules governing independent
private drug testing by the club on some players last year.
"It is alleged that Chelsea FC has breached Regulation 1(e)
of The FA's Doping Control Regulations, which states that
interference with a drugs test or the Doping Control Programme
will be regarded as amounting to a breach of the Doping Control
Regulations," the FA said on its official website.
The tests were carried out on July 12 2004. The west London
club has until September 23 to respond.
The FA rules on doping offences state: "The independent
private testing/screening of players by clubs, club officials or
any other person subject to FA rules is prohibited.
"Such testing/screening will be regarded as conduct that
would interfere with The FA's doping control programme...".
Chelsea have taken a hard line against drugs in the past and
sacked Romania striker Adrian Mutu in October last year and
Australia goalkeeper Mark Bosnich in January 2003 after they
tested positive for cocaine.