Chelsea goalkeeper Mark Bosnich has been charged by the Football Association after testing positive for cocaine.

He is accused of breaching the FA's doping regulations and bringing the game into disrepute.

Bosnich, 30, has been suspended from all footballing activities until the charges are heard.

A statement read: "The FA can confirm that Mark Bosnich of Chelsea has been charged with breaches of FA rules E1 and E26.

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"The FA would not normally make any public statements at this stage of a case of this type, however, in view of numerous media reports over the past few weeks the situation required clarification.

"The charges respectively relate to bringing the game into disrepute and to breaching the FA's doping regulations by testing positive for a prohibited substance, namely cocaine."

The Chelsea keeper, who has allegedly been suspended without pay by his club, has until Friday, 10 January to respond to the charges.

A statement on Chelsea's website said: "The club has summoned the player to an internal meeting.

"Chelsea will not be making any further comment until such time as the matter has been resolved."

Gordon Taylor, chief executive of the PFA, added: "It is a matter of some concern. We have regulations with regard to the use of drugs and cocaine is a Class A drug.

"It is a dangerous drug in so much as it can make people think they can do more than they are capable of.

"From that point of view it is on the banned list and there is a case to answer, but the player can undergo rehabilitation.

"We have been in constant contact with Mark since his first test was positive.

"Knowing him like I do, I cannot believe that this is the end of the road or the end of his career."

Chelsea supporter and football pundit David Mellor told BBC Sport Online that Bosnich should be sacked by Chelsea.

"The club have got the opportunity to sack him and they should do it. They should do it as cleanly and as quickly as possible."

Bosnich's management company, SEM, revealed in November that the goalkeeper suffering from severe clinical depression.

The Australian, who joined Chelsea on a free transfer in January 2001 after an spell at Manchester United, was first reported to have tested positive for cocaine on 10 November.

Three days later he was admitted to a depression unit after being diagnosed as "suffering from severe clinical depression".

On 19 December, it was revealed Bosnich's B sample also tested positive for the drug.

Bosnich reportedly referred allegations that he tested positive for cocaine to his lawyers.