And he looks like such a nice guy

Too many idiots, with too much money with a higher view of self importance than is realistically justified.

I would be interested in seeing a list of sportsmen that have been arrested for violent abuse, and drug use as a percentage of total sportsmen. Then compare that to the percentage of the population as a whole. Would be intriguing to see if there is any difference between the two groups.

Bramble's a prickly customer

Bramble is always caught in possesion though

Don't they test them for narcotics and performance enhancing drugs?

I dunno if hes guilty or not, but I hope this doesnt get taken to court!

His defence would be useless!

What is it with these footballers honestly!

Apparently Benny's been up to mischief too:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2041591/BAE-Systems-job-losses-Alan-Johnson-David-Davis-condemn-treatment-staff.html

Don't they test them for narcotics and performance enhancing drugs?

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He was supposed to be found in possession Class A drugs, so he might not actually be using, which could hint at dealing (speculation on my part).

I think drugs like cocaine are only in the system (or urine tests) for something like 3/4 days. For all we know he might of had a test recently and thought his chances of being tested again so close were small and worth the risk.

An idiot either way.

Danny.....................................The recent programme on drugs in football highlighted the poor testing that goes on. At least 65% of players have never been tested at all, whilst of those other 35% most knew when the testers were going to be at the training ground.

The difficulty is that they ring up beforehand to confirm X player will be at the training ground etc.............amazing how many of those come down with a bug so will not be in.

All tests should be done immediately a player comes off the pitch or him being called off the training ground to take it instantly.

Clubs who refuse to help or give access should be fined heavily for a first offence, subsequent offences should mean loss of points or something similar to enforce the rules.

geniusgreaves

I didnt see that program, but I agree with what you say. I don't see why they can't turn up at a training ground and test all the players in one hit. It shouldn't be a cost issue (especially in this country where the money that is about can surely cover the costs even if the FA have to foot the bill, surely a huge cost but a clean league is better than reduced cost and incidents occuring).

Though I also wouldnt object to clubs doing their own random drug tests either. If the employers are going to lose players because of failed tests and the difficulty that puts on them maybe clubs need to take a responsible approach (but fear cover-ups might occur) but it would be better to waste money testing than have the clubs name tarnished.

Maybe even test every player that has played in a game rather than just one or two. Until more tests are carried out the odd ones can slip by.

I mean how many of us have brought extra cigarettes or booze through customs without being caught, the higher risk of being caught the fewer would do it.

Also what drugs are tested for, there is a chance (and it is the season) for magic mushrooms, but I doubt they would be on the list as pyslobin probably isnt a performance enhancer but is still a class A substance.

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"...a huge cost but a clean league is better than reduced cost and incidents occuring"

Can you imagine the cost to the league if they suddenly found out that 30% of all players have cocaine in their system, 60% performance enhancing substances?

Of course I'm exaggerating to make a point, but the FA is more than capable of testing EVERYONE whenever they want to. Check out this article on doping I linked to a while back..

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/gordonfarquhar/2011/09/one_of_the_more_absurd.html

240 missed tests since 2007, only 4 clubs fined.

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i reckon drug use in football is widespread. i would be surprised if the whole tottenham squad is clean.

if they are not going to drug test properly then whats the point in doing it at all.

Let's face it - they make an example of the odd one or two to make it look like a clean sport while sweeping the rest under the carpet - Rio's suspension for missing a drugs test anyone??

Bales - I remember reading that at the time, and the number is alarming, as it does show some kind of guilt. Surely fines would need to be introduced (which in turn can fund the costs) for missed tests, against both the player and the club.

If the clubs though know that 240 missed tests have taken place and that players have mysteriously vanished when they should be there. Then the clubs should at least have the view that at least a small chance the player is hiding something that they are trying to hide. They need to act accordingly rather than just protecting players. Even if they cover it up initially and deal with it internally and get the player(s) to stop rather than grassing them up. It only risks damaging the club in the long run, and as is often said no player is bigger than the club.

I do feel though clubs would cover it up purely because a banned player has no transer value and as such is money the clubs can't avoid to flush down the toilet.

Clubs should take the responsibilty of drug testing, with a body checking as well, should be two levels of testing within the game. Even so far as the national set up testing all players when they meet up.

While it's admirable that you view the situation in such clear terms I can't believe that clubs and the FA are so naive. The clubs couldn't hide the fact that a player had been banned even if they wanted to.

The FA, and football as a whole, simply cannot take the risk of such a scandal ruining their cash-cow. If it were a truly clean sport they'd all be tested regularly before games.

Stories like that of Arsene Wenger giving his players caffeine pills before matches are only the tip of the iceberg in my opinion.

http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Paul-Merson-Arsenal-injected-me-with-mystery-yellow-liquid-and-Arsene-Wenger-handed-out-caffeine-pills-article734736.html

Geniusgreaves did'nt see the programme but if thats true it could be very huge problem.

Whilst I do view it in such clear terms I also understand that the situation won't change, and for the reasons we all know. Stories like Bramble will come up every now and then and be forgotten about almost straight away, the names will be remembered but it will be seen as more of a player being an idiot rather than a problem with the system.

Im not entirely clean and innocent in my past either, however I don't work in a field that requires me to be. I think this is why I have the view I do. I understand the problem is with the system and not the individuals. Individuals will always make mistakes but the system shouldn't.

I don't expect it to ever change either, though I think it should.

However, I don't actually have a problem with the caffiene pills, they are no different from energy drinks, and if they are allowed then why not caffiene. Im a keen fan of the Tour De France, and the cyclists often have cans of coke along the way. US sportsmen consume Gatorade like its going out of fashion. It would be impossible to ban caffiene.

Completely agree the problem is not the individual - I dread to think what I would've been like if I was on premier league wages aged 20!

As a fan of the Tour De France you will also be aware of blood doping, and the mutlitude of other methods they use to improve performance. Of course caffeine is impossible to ban but what about the "yellow liquid"? The rewards are so great, and the chances of being caught are so small, why wouldn't you give your players that extra something before a match?

The manager wants to win, the players want to win. The club doesn't want to know how, and the governing body doesn't want any negative press.

Besides, back on topic - Titus Bramble. What I really don't understand is footballers that assualt/rape women.. surely they can get any girl they want anyway? An idiot gets caught with drugs, only a truly sick individual takes pleasure in assualting women.

The yellow liquid is odd indeed, and thats where the individual should take responsibilty, they should never allow someone to inject them with something they are unsure off. If they were caught then its their footballing days over not the clubs. This is where the clubs might actually be putting pressure on the players in the 'if you don't want it you might not play' situation.

It would be interesting to see when drug use became popular in football (performance enhancing rather than recreational) and how much it coincides with the increase in money in the sport. I wouldnt be suprised if some clubs would risk it. After all national teams and countries have been caught in the past (especially in sports like gymlastics (sp?)).

It is bad in cycling, the blood doping and all, but they at least seemed to have cracked down on it harder in recent years, but only after scandal after scandal, and the teams in cycling are forever changing rather than a football club basis. So it might be harder for them to cover it up to the extent maybe football has.

That said, how they cycle the distances they do, the speed they do and what they cycle over at times I still don't think its clean, just think they are one step ahead most of the time. One day in this years Tour they cycled a mile up in altitude (not distance, just pure height) twice in one day (up one mountain, back down and up another one). I know their legs are crazy muscular and arms are piddly things, but its still crazy.

Back on Topic - I wonder if because footballers have so much money, and fame that they instantly think they are desirable and so why wouldnt a woman want them fawning all over them. They don't seem to understand that some women do look for substance over style. This just confuses them. After all they do have inflated ego's, and often when they get caught out the wifes/girlfriends seem to forgive them more often than not (Rooney for example).

I blame the parents meself

Agreed it would be interesting to know when performance enhancing drugs started to be used in football, shame we'll never find out.

I guess at the end of the day there's only so much drugs can do in football anyway. In a purely physical sport like cycling (a mile up? ) they would almost have to take supplements to compete.

Players like Hudd and Modric are good examples of not needing to be the fastest/strongest if you've got the skills. While the FA has FA motivation to catch cheats I'd like to think that most professionals would take enough care of themselves to do what's right.

To be honest and this may sound a little harsh, I think some of the footballer sexual assault cases are made up by the girls who allegedly got assaulted.

To be honest and this may sound a little harsh, I think some of the footballer sexual assault cases are made up by the girls who allegedly got assaulted.
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In Brambles case it was the taxi driver who observed things in his mirror that Brambles was doing to the girl & she was apparently trying to get him to stop.

The taxi driver drove straight to the police station & Brambles was arrested, it was then the drugs were found.