Premier League referees are EXEMPT from drug testing despite stringent doping rules on players as David Coote remains suspended after being ‘filmed snorting white powder during Euro 2024’

No Premier League referee has ever undergone drug testing by the PGMOL it can be revealed in the wake of David Coote being reportedly filmed snorting a white powder.

Coote is currently suspended by referees’ body PGMOL, who launched an investigation after a video emerged of him calling former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp a ‘German c***’ and the Reds  ‘s***’.

A separate video was then published on Wednesday evening of a man alleged to be Coote snorting a white powder in a hotel room while he was officiating at last summer’s Euros.

If the footage is genuine then it will be damning for the 42-year-old’s future in professional football with the termination of his association with the PGMOL a likely outcome.

The latest video – reported to have been filmed in a UEFA-funded hotel room – is said to have been recorded on July 6, the day after the Euro 2024 quarter-final between Portugal and France, in which Coote was a support VAR official and Michael Oliver was the referee.

A video has emerged of suspended Premier League referee Coote allegedly snorting white powder in a hotel room

Coote was suspended for making disparaging comments about Liverpool and their former manager Jurgen Klopp

However, a delve into the official rules and regulations regarding doping highlights match officials are not drug tested, despite players being frequently subjected to the process.

All players and competing athletes in British sport are compelled to undergo routine and surprise drug testing in a bid to identify competitors taking performance enhancing or illegal recreational substances.

As per the FA guidelines: ‘Players can be drug tested at any time and location, including after a game, at a training session or at home. 

‘You will be asked to provide a urine and/or a blood sample and may get tested multiple times during the season. 

‘In addition, the anti-doping testing programme in Football incorporates an Athlete Biological Passport (ABP) and Players may be selected for blood testing regularly across the season.’

A selection of players from Premier League teams are also randomly selected to undergo on-the-spot drug testing after the full-time whistle, but referees are exempt from this.

The stance on officials being tested is adopted worldwide and UK Anti Doping doesn’t reference a need to scrutinise referees or match officials in their guidelines. 

UKAD states: ‘Any UK athlete subject to the anti-doping rules of their sport and non-UK athlete staying, training, residing, entering a competition,

PGMOL chief Howard Webb (pictured)

Premier League footballers are routinely subjected to drug testing and can be made to give a blood or urine sample at any time

Urine samples are often required by UK Anti Doping (UKAD) to test players for banned substances

Match officials such as Coote (left) aren’t required to undergo any drug testing and the ruling is adopted worldwide

‘Or named as a member of a team participating in a competition at any level within the UK is eligible for testing as part of UKAD’s national anti-doping programme.

‘Any athlete eligible for testing can be tested anytime, anywhere.’

Meanwhile, the PGMOL issued a statement in the wake of the video purporting to show Coote using a rolled up banknote to snort a white powder off a table.

A PGMOL spokesperson said: ‘We are aware of the allegations and are taking them very seriously. David Coote remains suspended pending a full investigation.

‘David’s welfare continues to be of utmost importance to us and we are committed to providing him with the ongoing necessary support he needs through this period.

‘We are not in a position to comment further at this stage.’

Mail Sport reported on Tuesday that Saudi Arabia could be a potential escape route for Coote. However, the emergence of the latest video will surely put paid to any switch to the Middle East.

The Sun, who obtained the clip, claim Coote sent it to a friend from his hotel room.