Figures Reveal At Least 39% Of EFL Players Were Not Tested For Drugs In '15-16

Official figures revealed that at least 39% of players who played in the English Football League last season "were not drugs tested by UK Anti-Doping," according to Shepka, Mitchell & Garry of the BBC. UKAD, which carries out testing on behalf of the FA, took 1,204 samples from 1,989 players to appear in the EFL in '15-16. From 550 players to play in the Premier League, 799 samples were taken. There were no tests in the National League. The figures "do not account for players being tested more than once." That means one player being tested five times would account for five samples, "while some samples may have been taken from players who were registered with clubs but did not make a first-team appearance." The figures, released under the Freedom of Information Act, "show only 36 samples were taken from 169 players to appear in Women's Super League One," meaning at least 78% of players were not tested. The FA said that "like any sport" it prioritized its anti-doping program "at the elite end" (BBC, 2/13).