Arsène Wenger has repeated his call for blood testing to be introduced in football and insisted that anyone testing positive should have their contracts terminated.
In a recent interview with L’Equipe the Arsenal manager said that he has “played against many teams” that use performance-enhancing drugs. The Football Association has since asked Wenger to explain those comments in light of the recent Russian doping scandal in athletics. The Frenchman has elaborated on his views in an interview with Bein Sports and he has admitted that the urine tests which are currently utilised in football may not be sufficient to catch perpetrators.
“I’m not satisfied with the level of testing because I believe blood tests should be done,” he said. “If you want to go into a bit more sophistication you have to do blood checks. Urine checks are superficial and not deep enough to say absolutely sure that we have no doping problem in football.
“I think no [we don’t have a problem] and I wish no but on the other hand, can you have 740 football players at a World Cup and come out with zero alert on any doping? It’s a little bit surprising. I hope it is true but I think to be completely sure about it, you want to go into deeper tests.”
Wenger was also asked what deterrents can be put in place to prevent doping and admitted that the current regulations may not be enough to dissuade players from breaking the rules.
