UEFA has spoken to every player involved in this year's UEFA European Under-17 Championship in Slovenia about the dangers of doping, delivering the following message: "Respect your opponent, the spectators paying to see you and yourself; do not dope."

Dr Mogens Kreutzfeldt, vice-chairman of UEFA's Medical Committee, and Richard Grisdale, from UEFA's Medical and Anti-Doping Unit, provided players from all eight teams with a presentation on the pitfalls surrounding doping in football as part of UEFA's wider efforts to raise awareness at youth tournaments.

The talks aim to make players aware of the repercussions of doping in order to safeguard both their careers and their health, and to talk them through the procedure for doping control in competition – something which, for many players participating in the finals, will be a new experience in Slovenia.

A DVD defines doping and details the post-match testing procedure, before Grisdale makes clear the stance of UEFA regarding any player found guilty of committing a doping offence, and explains the policy of strict liability.
"If you test positive, you will be considered to have committed the offence, even if it was by mistake," he said. "Ultimately, you and only you are responsible for what is in your body."

Grisdale explained that the detection of a banned substance in your system is not the only way a doping offence is committed. Any refusal to be tested, interfering in the process or giving a banned substance to a team-mate is a rule violation, and all can be punished by a ban from the sport of up to two years.

Dr Kreutzfeldt is keen to stress that caution is the key for a professional footballer. Recreational drugs are prohibited, while the perils of hidden substances in nutritional supplements and banned substances in over-the-counter medication are also highlighted.

"Be very careful," he said. "Check everything you put into your body. Remember you are the one who pays the price if there is a problem."