The English Football Association chief executive Mark Palios has received the backing of the FA's professional game board over his handling of the Rio Ferdinand affair as he prepares to push for the defender to be banned for failing to take a drugs test.

The endorsement of the influential six-man game board, as well as that of other members of the full board, comes as the FA considers what action to take against Ferdinand, who was dropped by England for the game against Turkey.

Sources close to the process have indicated that Palios wants to make the Ferdinand case "a battleground on doping", and will push for the Manchester United player to be banned for several months.

The chief executive's hard line has also received the backing of the head of FIFA's doping committee, who said yesterday that Ferdinand "had to be punished".

Palios's approach was backed by the professional game board at a routine meeting attended by Palios at Soho Square. Crucially for his long-term prospects, the three Premier League representatives on the board, Rupert Lowe, chairman of Southampton, Robert Coar, chairman of Blackburn, and David Dein, vice-chairman of Arsenal, are understood not to have raised any objections to his conduct.

Peter Heard, chairman of Colchester United and a member of the FA's disciplinary committee, said: "The general feeling at the meeting was that the chief executive handled a very difficult situation well, given that the issue of the missed test arose just as the squad was due to be picked.

"My feeling is that his conduct has been vindicated throughout. The only question you might raise is one of time, rather than timing, in that it seemed to take a long time to work through the process."

Certain members of the full FA board representing amateur football also offered Palios their support.

Dave Henson of the Devon FA said: "I rang Mark immediately I heard to tell him I was right behind him. I represent grass-roots football and there was very little support for the player's position outside the professional game. We have to be tough on drugs and this is a good start."

In his first public comments since last week, Palios defended the FA's conduct and called for the game to move on in the wake of the draw in Istanbul. He insisted that the FA did not breach Ferdinand's confidence and that the decision to drop him would not affect the disciplinary process.

"The crux of this matter is not about disagreements between major footballing bodies; it concerns the importance of the FA's anti-doping programme and the FA's right to govern the game with integrity. None of these points is negotiable."

Last night the FA was still considering what charges to level against Ferdinand, who has been asked to supply copies of his mobile phone records. And his club will be asked for a detailed account of events to help establish whether his failure to provide a sample was accidental or wilful.

Ferdinand has claimed that his mobile phone was switched off after he left the training ground and he did not receive a message from the club doctor, Mike Stone, telling him to return. The phone records will be crucial in establishing whether he intentionally avoided the test.

Dr Stone is said to have told Ferdinand about the test as soon as he finished training, and then asked another player to remind him.

Manchester United have confirmed that Ferdinand will be available for selection, starting with Saturday's visit to his old club Leeds, a trip that will certainly test the defender's resolve.

Meanwhile, Aston Villa have revealed that controversial central defender Alpay was given permission by the club not to report for training yesterday - but major doubts still linger over the Turkish international's future at the club.

Alpay has been the victim of a public hate campaign following his spat with David Beckham during last Saturday's Euro 2004 qualifier in Istanbul.

Turkey manager Senol Gunes is considering dropping the under-pressure defender for his country's play-offs against Latvia while he is at the centre of the controversy.

He was already unpopular with Villa fans upset at his desire to leave the club stemming back to the summer of 2002 when he asked for a transfer.

Villa would not say whether or not Alpay will be back at work today to begin preparations for the derby with Birmingham at St Andrews.