Ferdinand wants a personal hearing
LONDON, England -- Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has asked the English FA for a personal hearing after being charged with "failure or refusal" to take a drugs test.
"We have received a response from Rio Ferdinand," an FA spokesman said on Thursday. "He has denied the charge of misconduct and has requested a personal hearing."
The FA have come under fire from FIFA supremo Sepp Blatter for the length of time it has taken to deal with Ferdinand who could face a lengthy ban if found guilty.
Officials said a date of the hearing for England star Ferdinand has yet to be scheduled.
The 24-year-old failed to attend the drugs test at United's Carrington training ground on September 23, claiming that he forgot because he was moving house.
Although he passed a subsequent test 36 hours later he was excluded from England's squad for the decisive Euro 2004 qualifier in Turkey on October 11.
The FA's decision provoked criticism from Manchester United and the players' union, while Ferdinand's England team-mates threatened to go on strike unless he was reinstated.
They eventually backed down, but only after issuing a statement which accused their governing body of letting them down over the affair.
After charging Ferdinand in relation to Regulation 1(c) of its Doping Control Regulations, the player was given 14 days to respond.
United paid an English transfer record 30 million pounds ($50.57m) for Ferdinand when he joined them from Leeds United last year.
Born in south London, Ferdinand started his career at West Ham United and has won 33 England caps.
