Manchester United charged by UEFA over ADR breach

Manchester United has allegedly breached the UEFA anti-doping regulations concerning the doping control procedure.

Luke Shaw-Bastian Schweinsteiger
Picture for representation Reuters

Manchester United's chances of winning the UEFA Supercup for the first time in 26 years against defending champions Real Madrid were dampened on Monday as they were found guilty of breaching the UEFA anti-doping regulations concerning the doping control procedure.

United's English defender Phil Jones has been banned from the team's next two European matches for verbally abusing an anti-doping official, who stopped him from posing for a post-match squad photograph paying tribute to those killed and injured at an Ariana Grande concert that was held in Manchester two days prior to the final.

Dutch defender Daley Blind was also fined by UEFA for failing to report immediately for a drugs test after participating in a commemoration which followed the club's Europa League triumph.

Blind, ultimately managed to feature in the photo but did so accompanied by a chaperone with the mistaken notion that was permitted, as it is in other competitions.

However, there is no suggestion that either of the players were in any way guilty of doping.

Jones, who was an unused substitute against Ajax, and Blind, who played 90 minutes, were each fined €5,000 (£4,450), while United were docked €10,000 (£8,900) over the rule breaches.

Uefa said in a statement: "The club has been charged for infringements of the Uefa anti-doping regulations (ADR) concerning the doping control procedure.

"In particular, according to Appendix B (17) of the aforementioned regulations, 'the teams are responsible for ensuring that the players drawn to undergo doping controls are taken by the respective team representatives to the doping control station straight from the pitch as soon as the match is over. This applies even when chaperones are appointed by UEFA'.

"The player Philip Jones has been charged for insulting and directing abusive language towards the doping control officer (Article 15 (1) of the Uefa disciplinary regulations), as well as for lack of cooperation and respect towards the doping control procedure (Article 6.05 ADR).

"The player Daley Blind has been charged for violation and non-compliance with Article 6.05 (a) of the UEFA anti-doping regulations, which states that 'every player designated to undergo as doping control is personally responsible for reporting immediately to the doping control station as notified'."

United have yet to sanction a statement, although Phil Jones is expected to appeal against his ban.

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