RIO FERDINAND left a decision to contest a misconduct charge over failing to give a urine sample for a drugs test until the very last minutes of his 14-day deadline yesterday. The most controversial doping case in English football history, which led to the England team almost boycotting the decisive European Championship game against Turkey in Istanbul last month, will now start what may be the first of a series of hearings and possible legal action.

Just before the cut-off time of 5pm, the FA received a letter from the Manchester United defender. An FA spokesman said: “Rio Ferdinand has responded to the charge issued on October 29. He has denied the charge and requested a personal hearing.” A date will be fixed for the hearing.

Watching over the conduct of the cases will be Fifa, world football’s governing body, which has expressed concern at the time the process has taken, and also the World Anti-Doping Agency, which not only wants justice to be done, but for it to be seen to be done.

Ferdinand, the most expensive defender in world football, failed to give a urine specimen after being asked to do so at his club’s Carrington training ground on September 23. The 24-year-old said that he had forgotten, was moving house and that he could not be contacted because his mobile phone was switched off. Ferdinand maintains he has never used performance-enhancing or recreational drugs.

Although he passed a subsequent test 36 hours later, he was excluded from the England squad for the game away to Turkey, sparking the players’ revolt. The FA’s decision was criticised by United and the Professional Footballers’ Association. In most sports, a refusal to give a urine sample is regarded as a positive test for a serious performance- enhancing drug and the individual can be banned for two years. However, United will argue that Ferdinand did not refuse the test, but that he simply forgot to take it.

United will also cite the precedent of Christian Negouai, the Manchester City midfield player, who was picked for a random test but went to Liverpool airport and was caught in a traffic jam on his return, failing to meet the independent sampling officer from UK Sport. Like Ferdinand, he gave a specimen within the next 48 hours, which was negative. He was let off with a fine and a warning. That is unlikely to happen in this case.

Much will hinge on examining Ferdinand’s mobile phone records to determine whether he made any calls at a time when he has said his phone was switched off. Fifa has said it will step in should the punishment be too lenient.

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