FA set to charge Ferdinand with misconduct this week

The Football Association is expected to charge Rio Ferdinand with misconduct on Thursday as a result of his failure to attend a drugs test on 23 September.

Yesterday documentation, including Ferdinand's mobile phone records, was sent by Manchester United to the FA. The FA's compliance unit will spend today studying the evidence and though they could announce charges tomorrow, with United playing Rangers in the Champions' League they will wait until at least the following day before making any announcement.

The England defender seems certain to face at least one charge of failing to attend an anti-doping test and the FA will have to decide whether there is enough evidence to charge him with wilful or deliberate failure to attend the drugs test. That is a more severe charge and would carry a certain ban.

Much of the speculation over Ferdinand's case has centred on the question of whether his mobile phone was switched on during the afternoon of 23 September.

Ferdinand will hope the records support his claims that he did contact the FA once he realised he had forgotten the appointment.