Sepp Blatter says world soccer's governing body might consider imposing lifetime bans on any player caught taking performance-enhancing drugs.

The FIFA president admitted for the first time earlier this month that soccer has a doping problem and used a column in Wednesday's Financial Times newspaper to defend his recent criticism of the Rio Ferdinand case. Last month Blatter said Ferdinand, charged for missing a drugs test, should be suspended pending his hearing. He also questioned the validity of Manchester United's results with the England defender playing on.

"Surely, if we condemn a player who has either refused or miraculously forgotten to take a drug test, it is not FIFA that is at fault, but those directly responsible for this inexcusable omission and its aftermath," said Blatter.

"That is the individual himself, his club and the FA, which has not swiftly enforced the laws on the suspension of players that ought to be applied," he said in the Financial Times.

"If FIFA sees this sort of thing happening, it is its duty to intervene. It is the only way to make sure that the law is the same for everyone, rich and poor. FIFA cannot accept different strokes for different folks.

"If this type of behaviour persists we may well consider promulgating a law to impose a lifetime ban on any player caught taking performance-enhancing drugs and relegation on his club. If clubs can't control their players, who can?"

Ferdinand failed to take a scheduled drugs test on September 23 and has been playing for his club, but not selected for his country, since then.

He has been charged by the FA with "failure or refusal" to take a drugs test, which he denies and has requested a personal hearing with the FA which will be held on December 18-19 although no decision may be taken until the New Year.