Arsene Wenger Asked by FA to Explain Premier League Doping Claim

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has been asked by the Football Association to explain his comments in L'Equipe that there could be a doping problem in the Premier League.  

According to the Evening Standard's James Olley, "the FA have invited Wenger to share his views with them in private and provide any further information he may have."

Per Olley, Wenger noted in an interview with the French publication he has never resorted to "injecting my players to make them better," but "I’ve played against many teams that weren’t in that frame of mind."

According to the report, Wenger isn't at risk of any sanctions by the FA—rather, the seriousness of the accusation has compelled them to investigate the claims. An FA spokesman shared a lengthy statement claiming the association "operates one of the most comprehensive anti-doping testing programmes in the world."

Sports writer Kieran Cunningham praised Wenger for raising the issue—one not heard often in relation to football:

Olley further notes that Dinamo Zagreb player Arijan Ademi will face a hearing on Nov. 19 after failing a drugs test following the Gunners' 2-1 defeat to his side earlier in the season, but for UEFA to punish the side, there must be at least two players from the club found guilty in the same campaign.

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The Frenchman's comments come not only in the wake of that but the 2013 case of Spanish doctor Eufemiano Fuentes, who was convicted of endangering public health in relation to doping in cycling and claimed he worked with athletes of all kinds, including footballers.

Wenger will most likely comply with the FA's request as his claims indicate a belief the problem of doping in football is widespread, not to mention experiencing it firsthand with Ademi's failed test.

Compared with the likes of cycling, football has largely been unmentioned when it comes to the issue of performance-enhancing drugs; however, that could be set to change if Wenger explains his comments and the FA decide to investigate them further.