Alexis Sanchez
Arsenal and Alexis Sanchez will face a possible FA probe after it emerged that the Chilean may have missed a drugs test on the day he joined Manchester United, The Sun UK reports.
Sanchez has been caught in UK Anti-Doping’s “Whereabouts” minefield following claims the Gunners failed to tell the FA he would not be at training on Monday.
FA testers were due to turn up at their training centre and Sanchez was one of the random names pulled out for testing. But Arsenal, who are supposed to inform the FA of any changes to their training schedules each day, appear to have overlooked Sanchez’s absence in an admin blunder.
There is no suggestion he tried to evade a test and it is unlikely he would even have known where he should have been that day for testing purposes – clubs usually take responsibility for telling the authorities of their players’ whereabouts.
While Arsenal had given permission for Sanchez to join United, they face sanctions if the FA do not accept their explanation. The player will not be prevented from making his debut against Yeovil in the FA Cup tonight.
Under UK Anti-Doping rules, three violations of the same offence leads to an automatic suspension.
Arsenal and the FA declined to comment.