POOR Adrian Mutu. Tested for drugs by Chelsea, exposed as a cocaine-user, and sacked for gross misconduct by the club yesterday.

Poor, poor Adrian Mutu. How dare Chelsea target him for a drugs test and then kick him out of the Premiership? It's not the sack he needs, it's care and support.

Well, at least that's the view of Professional Footballers' Association boss Gordon Taylor.

Mr Taylor chose to condemn Chelsea officials for pursuing their suspicions - aroused by poor performances and strange behaviour - that the striker was taking drugs.

"Chelsea have a duty of care," insisted Mr Taylor. "We would expect an interest in the moral and social welfare of their employees."

What utter rot. Mutu only held up his hands and admitted to his "mistake" when was caught red-handed.

He had a duty of care - to the club which paid him £60,000 a week, and to the kids who bought expensive shirts with his name on the back.

It is, of course, much easier for a club owned by a Russian billionaire to write off a player worth around £12m.

Nevertheless, it sends a clear message that athletes who take drugs will be vigorously pursued, and we hope others follow Chelsea's zero tolerance approach.

We will leave it to Gordon Taylor to send sympathy cards and messages of support to Adrian Mutu.

But we won't feel too guilty about it. After all, Mutu will be back in football's crazy market place in a couple of years time, a free agent and able to command a contract worth millions.

Poor chap.