FIFA general secretary Sepp Blatter yesterday called on

soccer's governing body to take a new look at anti-doping measures

after a French first-division player tested positive.

Blatter said soccer's third positive test in recent months was a major

blow, and that FIFA's executive meeting in New York next month would

almost certainly examine the problem. His comments came after the French

football federation had confirmed that an un-named player had been

secretly punished last season for failing a test.

The notorious Diego Maradona ephedrene case at the World Cup finals,

and the one-year ban imposed earlier this month on Dynamo Minsk

midfielder Valentin Belkevich for using anabolic steriods in a UEFA Cup

tie this season had already put soccer firmly in the doping spotlight.