I don't think i've actually mentioned this here until now for some reason, so apologies for that. This has been making headlines here for weeks now, and it's showing no signs of slowing down.
Here's how the situation has developed over the last month.....
Rio Ferdinand's failure to take a drugs test sparked a crisis that at one point threatened England's participation in Euro 2004.
But how did the events unfold?
23 September
An official UK Sport drug-testing team arrive at United's Carrington training ground to carry out random samples. Ferdinand is one of four players to have his name picked out of a hat.
The players are allowed to shower after training before taking their tests but Ferdinand leaves before doing so and is later photographed shopping in Manchester city centre.
The centre-back is finally contacted by his club but it is too late for him to return as the testers have left. He tells United that he forgot the test as he was in the process of moving home.
24 September
Ferdinand does eventually take an official drugs test, which he passes.
However, his failure to sit the original test carries a 'strict liability' penalty leading to a probable misconduct charge.
Late September
The FA receive official notification from Sport England and start to gather evidence for the case, while attempting to speed up the process as the England squad announcement looms.
3 October
The FA send a letter to Ferdinand, informing him that UK Sport have advised them of his failure to attend the original test.
4 October
Talks begin behind the scenes with United as the club are contacted by the FA and informed of the FA's likely course of action. United call in their lawyers.
5 October
The England squad announcement, due at 1900 BST, is delayed until the next day.
Publicly, it appears as though fitness concerns over Owen are the issue.
But the FA is, in fact, trying to avert a crisis. FA head of football David Davies has an informal meeting with Ferdinand in the morning, while FA officials meet to discuss the case later.
6 October
The FA's view that Ferdinand cannot be picked in the squad starts to harden. Efforts are made to hold the "interview" with Ferdinand that must precede any official charge before the squad is named.
Ferdinand, however, rejects the chance to move this 'interview' forward from Monday 13 October. The FA therefore postpone the squad announcement once again as their compliance unit fly to Manchester.
7 October
No meeting with Ferdinand is possible, so Eriksson is told that the centre-back must be left out of the squad, with the FA deeming his call-up to have been "inappropriate".
The FA hold an early evening meeting with leading players, including the "players' committee" of Beckham, Michael Owen, Sol Campbell and Gary Neville, who make them fully aware of their objections.
The FA release a statement claiming that talk of any proposed strike is wide of the mark, insisting that talks have been "amicable".
The England players nevertheless hold a meeting of the full squad, with Barber asked to present his views.
Once Barber has left, a vote is taken and the players unanimously agree that they will threaten to strike if Ferdinand is not recalled.
8 October
Talks aimed at averting a strike start at breakfast time and continue throughout the day, even though the players do turn up for training.
At 1600 BST, Barber tells the media the FA will not back down and that the players are meeting later to consider whether to go ahead with their threat to boycott the game.
Five hours later, Eriksson and FA chief executive Mark Palios emerge to announce the squad will be travelling to Turkey after all.
The players do not appear but launch a bitter attack on the FA in a written statement which is handed to journalists.
9 October
Fifa president Sepp Blatter comes out in favour of the FA's stance, telling the BBC that "there is not enough discipline and respect in our game."
Meanwhile, Taylor launches a fierce defence of the players' actions, branding the FA as "arrogant".
10 October
England skipper David Beckham attempts to draw a line under the affair, claiming that the furore has brought the squad closer together.
The FA and United continue their dialogue as they attempt to bridge the gaps that have opened up between the two sides.
11 October
England earn the point they need to qualify for Euro 2004 with a 0-0 draw against Turkey in Istanbul.
"They had a strange week, but they showed exactly what we hoped," said England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson.
12 October
The FA announces it has begun a formal review of the affair and gives details of plans to seek retractions for any slanderous comments made against it with PFA chief executive Gordon Taylor thought to be a likely target.
"A lot has been said and written and as you would expect the FA will be conducting a thorough review of all the issues including an analysis of what was said by whom and when," said FA communications director Paul Barber.
"Clearly, the FA would expect any unsubstantiated or inaccurate statements made about its handling of a very difficult issue to be corrected by those concerned at the earliest possible opportunity."
13 October
Ferdinand - together with his legal team and PFA representatives - attends a personal interview with FA head of compliance Steve Barrow.
"In accordance with the FA procedures and timetable, I [have] participated in an FA interview and provided the association with a full and detailed explanation of my failure to take a random test," read Ferdinand's statement.
But no charges are forthcoming as the FA seeks more time to investigate the case.
14 October
United insist they will continue to pick Ferdinand while the FA considers what action to take, insisting there is no "moral dilemma" in the selection.
And Fifa warns the FA that it is willing to step in if any punishment handed out to Ferdinand is deemed too lenient.
"This is a serious case," said Fifa medical committee head Michel D'Hooghe.
"Ferdinand certainly has to be punished. Fifa is waiting to assess whether a serious sanction is forthcoming - one which fits the infringement.
"We will let the English do their work first. If everything is correct, we won't have to do anything."
15 October
Ferdinand's Manchester United and England team-mate Gary Neville issues a strong criticism of the FA's handling of the affair.
Neville accuses the organisation of "hanging [Ferdinand] out to dry" and prejudging the case.
The FA asks Ferdinand for his mobile phone records as evidence.
27 October
Fifa announces it will discuss the handling of Ferdinand's case on 28 October.
But the governing body stresses it will await the English FA's findings before making any statement about the matter.
29 October
The FA charges Ferdinand with misconduct, for a breach of rule E26, which refers to "the failure or refusal by a player to submit to drug testing as required by a competent official".
The player has 14 days to respond to the charges.
JMO.
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