Repentant Rio Ferdinand has thrown his European Championship dream at the mercy of a three-man Football Association appeals panel.

A file photograph shows Manchester United's Rio Ferdinand celebrating victory over Rangers in the Champions League first stage Group E match at Ibrox, Glasgow, October 22, 2003. Ferdinand is to appeal against his eight-month ban for missing a drugs test, the English champions said on Friday. [Reuters]

The Manchester United defender announced on Friday night that he intends to challenge his eight-month ban for a missed drugs test but crucially confirmed he would start his suspension on Monday anyway.

In what will be constituted as a climbdown after the aggressive tone Ferdinand and the Old Trafford camp have previously adopted in the four-month long saga, the ￡29.3million record signing also offered a formal apology for his 'mistake'.

His decision is based on the acceptance that when the case is eventually resolved, he is bound to receive some kind of suspension. By starting it after tomorrow's Premiership encounter with Wolves, Ferdinand knows that any reduction in the punishment would enhance his chances of playing for England in Portugal this summer.

Depending on whether Ferdinand's legal team offers new evidence, an FA panel could convene within a fortnight to determine the Londoner's fate.

As it presently stands, the former Leeds and West Ham star will be out of the game until September 20.

However, with Sven-Goran Eriksson's side due to begin their Euro 2004 campaign against France in Lisbon on June 13, Ferdinand knows if his current suspension is halved, he would be clear to play.

'I want to get back playing for Manchester United and England as soon as possible and if starting the suspension now will help, then I am prepared to suffer it,' he said.

'I feel strongly that I have given an honest account of the circumstances which led to my mistake and I believe that the verdict and the ban are wrong.

'I would like to apologise for my oversight in missing my drugs test. I have previously made it clear that I condemn the use of drugs in any circumstances but especially in sport and I intend to continue helping to spread this message during and after any period of suspension that I have to serve.'

Old Trafford officials have confirmed they are fully behind Ferdinand's decision and will continue to back him throughout the appeals process.

'Whilst Rio Ferdinand accepts that he missed an unannounced drugs test, and publicly apologises for that, he continues to maintain that he did not miss the test deliberately and that he did not have any reason to avoid it,' re-affirmed United in a statement this evening.

A notice of appeal will be lodged with the Football Association on Monday, after which the governing body will set up another three-man panel, chaired by a legally qualified non-FA representative to determine Ferdinand's fate.

The severity of the sentence dished out by the original three-man panel in Bolton on December 19 surprised most observers, who had been anticipating a three-month ban.

At the time, United director and Ferdinand's legal adviser Maurice Watkins, described the punishment as 'savage'.

Opinion within the sporting world was mixed, with some, notably World Anti-Doping Agency chairman Dick Pound, claiming the sentence was lenient compared to most other sports, who would have handed Ferdinand an automatic two-year ban.

The player's supporters pointed to the ￡2,000 fine imposed on Manchester City's Christian Negouai in a similar case earlier in the year as evidence the punishment was excessive.

However, FA chief executive Mark Palios has vowed to clean up the game and Ferdinand is taking a risk by appealing because there is a possibility that the punishment could be increased.

Despite the threat of intervention by FIFA president Sepp Blatter should he deem the final punishment to be too light, an increase beyond eight months appears unlikely.

What all parties will hope for is a speedy resolution to a case which dates back to September 23 and almost led to a strike by England players when Ferdinand was omitted from the crucial qualifying tie with Turkey in Istanbul.

Players union boss Gordon Taylor has already led the calls for a complete overhaul of soccer's drug testing procedures and, in backing Ferdinand's appeal, Manchester United chief executive David Gill has done the same.

'There are lessons to be learned for all of us from this episode,' he said.

'Rio recognises that he has made a serious mistake, which is why he will begin the suspension immediately rather than wait for the outcome of the appeals procedure.

'However, after studying the detailed verdict from the Commission, we are convinced the player has a strong case to challenge both the verdict and the ban given the player's full explanation to the Commission of the circumstances surrounding his failure to take the drugs test.

'We recognise our own responsibilities in this matter and our important role in fighting the abuse of drugs in football and society at large.'

Ferdinand will continue his work in both the north-west and his home district of south-east London to combat the abuse of drugs among local youngsters.

Ironically, he has produced some of the best form of his United career since the storm over his missed test emerged.

During his original hearing, Ferdinand is believed to have claimed he offered to return to United's Carrington training complex to take the test when it became apparent he had missed it.

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson, team-mate Nicky Butt and fellow professional Eyal Berkovic, who was with Ferdinand in Manchester city centre on the afternoon of the missed test, all gave evidence on the 25-year-old's behalf during the two-day hearing.

Ferdinand was originally due to start his suspension on January 12 but that date was put back after he requested written confirmation of the reasons behind the punishment, which also included a ￡50,000 fine.

Unless new evidence is brought forward, the FA have confirmed there will be no need for another formal hearing.

'At this moment, the FA have not received any formal notification of a request for an appeal from Rio Ferdinand,' said an FA spokesman.

'However, he has until Monday to request this.'

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