Chelsea goalkeeper Mark Bosnich has vowed to fight a Football Association misconduct charge which threatens to ruin his career following a positive drugs test for cocaine.
Bosnich was given 14 days in which to respond to the FA charge and his legal team replied this afternoon, shortly before the deadline was due to expire.
They made it clear that the Australian international would be requesting a personal hearing and would be seeking to answer the charge against him.
FA spokesman Adrian Bevington revealed: "I can confirm that Mark Bosnich's legal team have responded and they are contesting the charge."
If Bosnich is found guilty of the FA charge at the hearing, for which a date has not yet been set, he could expect a lengthy ban from the game.
He continues to maintain his innocence even though the onus is now on him to prove why traces of the drug were apparently found in his system in a random test.
He was charged by the FA after confirmation that his 'B' sample had tested positive for cocaine, just as his initial 'A' sample had done back in November.
Chelsea, who had suspended him without pay, notified him in writing earlier this week that his contract would be terminated 14 days later.
PA