The next footballer to test positive for performance-enhancing drugs in England faces the prospect of a mandatory two-year ban after the Football Association yesterday signed up to the world anti-doping code.

The FA were joined in their commitment to clean sport by the Rugby Football Union, the England and Wales Cricket Board and the Lawn Tennis Association.

All four organisations signed UK Sport's National Governing Body agreement, which ties them to the UK national anti-doping policy and in turn the world code.

John Scott, the director of drug-free sport at UK Sport, said: "These four key governing bodies signing the NGB agreement is an important landmark in the ongoing roll-out of the policy and we will continue apace in getting all the governing bodies we work with on board."

The agreement brings the FA into line with foot-ball's world governing body, Fifa, who are also compatible with the code after amending their own regulations at a congressional meeting just before the World Cup.

The World Anti-Doping Agency are still awaiting official confirmation of Fifa's new rules, though that is expected to be a formality.

UK Sport are in the same position with the FA, but this agreement marks a major step towards British sport taking a uniform approach to the issue of anti-doping.

The implementation of a worldwide code has often been undermined by sporting bodies adopting a differing stance on the issue.

For example, West Ham United winger Shaun Newton was last week banned for seven months by the FA after testing positive for cocaine, while the Australian Rugby Union handed Wendell Sailor a mandatory two-year suspension for the same offence.

Newton did not come under the world code because his test was taken before Fifa's meeting in Munich but this agreement will eradicate those kind of discrepancies.

Scott said: "The advent of the world anti-doping code [provides us] with one unified set of rules and regulations ensuring fairness and consistency for all athletes, regardless of their sport."

The agreement includes a clause relating to potential funding sanctions if it becomes evident a governing body is not adhering to the standards set out in the code.

UK Sport, the national anti-doping organisation for the UK, is responsible for the collection and analysis of samples at a laboratory accredited by WADA.

The FA's chief executive Brian Barwick said: "Our partnership with UK Sport and signing of the UK anti-doping policy under-lines our commitment."