The Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) will oppose new drug-testing rules that could see the top players tested in their own homes.

Under the new code of the World Anti-Doping Association (WADA), a pool of 30 elite players may be forced to undergo up to five tests a year on top of those carried out after matches.

The move is to bring sports such as football into line with Olympic athletes, who must provide details of their location for an hour each day, including holidays.

But Gordon Taylor, the PFA chief executive, said the players' union opposed some of the new regulations.

"We feel that to invade the privacy of a player's home would be a step too far," Taylor said. "If we complain about anything to do with drug-testing people think we might have something to hide, but football's record is extremely good and there has been a virtual absence of any performance-enhancing drugs over decades.

"We do appreciate that football is a major spectator sport and we wish to co-operate, but football should not be treated in the same way as individual sports that do have a problem with drugs, such as athletics, cycling and weightlifting.

"For most of the year, the whereabouts of players is always known - either at their training ground or matches."

The Football Association insisted the details of the new drug-testing policy had not been finalised. An FA spokesman said: "The introduction of a national testing pool in each country is a requirement of the WADA code, but there are still discussions to be had between the FA and UK Sport on the size, composition and testing requirements for English football's pool.

"To be clear, these details have not yet been defined, and the FA will be guided by FIFA's view as our international governing body. We also want the PFA to be involved in these discussions. The FA currently runs the biggest drug-testing programme in British Sport, with 1,600 tests conducted every season.

"Our programme is run in conjunction with UK Sport and joint-funded by the two bodies. The bulk of testing is random, unannounced, out-of-competition testing at training grounds. We are committed to being at the forefront of the fight against doping."