London: English anti-doping chiefs are planning to have the whole England football squad tested before they go to the World Cup finals.
UK Sport officials test all British athletes before summer and winter Olympics - and they want to do the same with Sven-Goran Eriksson's England side before they go to the tournament in Germany which runs from June 9 to July 9.
Such a move has not happened before previous major football tournaments and would need the agreement of the Football Association, who authorise UK Sport to carry out drugs tests on players on their behalf.
John Scott, UK Sport's director of drug-free sport, said: "It is a discussion we will be having with the FA, because it would send a powerful message. In principle we are very supportive about the idea of testing the squad."
Scott also issued a warning that athletes should not be tempted to explore using 'gene doping' to cheat, saying they are "playing with fire" because of the possible side effects.
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