Rio rocked by drugs ban decision

The Manchester United defender has been sitting on the sidelines since January but had hoped that his ban for failing to take a drugs test would be shortened by The FA.

However, the 25-year-old's punishment remains the same and he will be unavailable until September.

The main factor for Ferdinand is the fact that he will miss out on England's Euro 2004 campaign in Portugal this summer.

"I'm absolutely devastated at this verdict," Ferdinand told the Sun.

"The panel have said I am not a drug taker.

"The main thing keeping me going throughout this has been the possibility of playing again this season.

"This verdict has taken that hope away from me.

"I won't feel happy until I am back in competitive football.

"At the end of the day I am a footballer and I want to play football for a living.

"I would like to thank my lawyers and the club for supporting me through this. Now I have to sit down and come to terms with what has happened."

The former Leeds and West Ham man could still appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland, but he runs the risk of having the ban increased to two years should he fail.

He, along with United's lawyers, will now decide what the next step will be, whether to further contest the ban or accept that his season is over.