Who exactly would test them and how would they be penalised?
At least it's publicised when they go into rehab, which doesn't paint drugs in a good light.
like anything, the power lies with who pays them, so record companies etc. As for how would they be penalised, you can build an edifice that is capable of doing it. If it's so important that anyone kids idolise not do drugs, because kids have no brain of their own apparently, then you can do it with enough will. The only problem is, when you put it like that, you start to see how stupid the whole concept is.
I just think if we allow footballers to take drugs without punishment it makes it seem okay. I think that if punishing footballers for taking illegal drugs stops 2 people a year from going down the drugs path then it's worth it.
It's a real shame that such a good, well-meaning policy, progressively based on welfare not punishment, has been corrupted by wowsers who decided that now they had a means of finding out about drugs started believing that gave them the right to judge footballers.
I'm going to give you an uncomfortable truth right now. If it's so important to you that "allowing" footballers to take drugs without punishment then the simple, elegant and most powerful way you can stop that perception is to stop drug testing all together. Then little Johnny is none the wiser that his idols are in fact flesh and blood.