Gottskalksson gets FA suspension

[Guest]

 

Gottkalksson has not been seen at Torquay recently

Former Torquay keeper Oli Gottskalksson has been suspended indefinitely by the Football Association for refusing to take a drugs test.

The 37-year-old former Iceland international disappeared after failing to take the test in January.

 

He is the first footballer to be officially named by UK Sport for breaking anti-doping regulations since new rules came into force last year.

 

An FA spokesman said Fifa had been asked to extend the ban worldwide.

 

He is also the first player to be banned for refusing to comply with a drugs test since Manchester United and England defender Rio Ferdinand was given an eight-month suspension.

 

Meanwhile, the FA has also suspended indefinitely another footballer following a third positive for cocaine.

 

Under the rules, the player is not named because he returned a finding for recreational rather than performance-enhancing drugs.

 

He had a cracking girlfriend but he even left her behind too.

 

Torquay chairman Michael Bateson

 

Gottskalksson, a former Brentford and Hibernian keeper who had had a contract with Torquay until the end of June, is thought to have returned to Iceland.

 

Torquay chairman Michael Bateson said: "The players were at the training ground at the end of January when the drug testers turned up.

 

"He asked to look at the list of banned substances and asked what would happen if he had taken one of them.

 

"He was told that the test would be positive and the FA would be informed and he said 'I'm refusing to take the test' and packed his things, left the training ground and we never saw him again.

 

"We tried to phone and write but couldn't get in touch. He moved out of his flat and just vanished - he had a cracking girlfriend but he even left her behind too.

 

"In fairness, I am sure he had not taken any recreational drugs. He had had a shoulder problem for several years and if he had taken anything then it was probably linked to that.

 

"His disappearance left us in the lurch - we had a nightmare season for goalkeepers and I think it was that incident that eventually led to us being relegated to League Two because we only went down on goal difference."

 

The FA has imposed an indefinite suspension on Gottskalksson until he appears before a disciplinary hearing and asked Fifa to extend the ban internationally.

 

An FA spokesman said: "Gottskalksson was charged on 8 April with a breach of FA regulations for his willing and knowing refusal to submit to drug testing.

 

"He failed to reply to the charge and his case was dealt with in absentia by an independent disciplinary commission."

[Rob_Butler]

already been posted look under oli