Australian goalkeeper Mark Bosnich has been sacked by his English club Chelsea after he was charged with drug offences by the Football Association.

Although Chelsea maintained its silence over the issue, it was confirmed by sources close to Bosnich today that the club had formally given him notice.

The premier league club had suspended Bosnich without his STG42,000 ($A117,800) a week pay since he tested positive to cocaine on November 10 but was waiting for the FA to take action before sacking him.

But Stamford Bridge officials appear to have jumped in before the FA reached a verdict.

"Chelsea has given him notice of termination of his contract but they shouldn't have done that until the FA had finished its hearing," the source said.

Bosnich's legal advice suggests Chelsea has acted improperly by sacking him but the club, which has been eager to offload him for some time, insists he breached his contract.

The FA charged the former Sydney Croatia player on December 27 with breaching its doping regulations after his A and B samples both tested positive to cocaine.

He has until Friday to answer the charges in writing and will face an FA hearing at a date to be set.

Bosnich, 30, will contest the FA charges, claiming the cocaine entered his system by accident.

He missed a scheduled hearing with the Chelsea hierarchy last week on doctor's advice but the club interpreted that as a refusal to discuss the matter and so sacked him.

He has been suspended from all football activities and faces a two year international ban if found guilty.

Bosnich has had a tumultuous last four years after being rated among the world's best goalkeepers in his seven year stint at Aston Villa.

He played 23 matches in two years at Manchester United and left the club in January 2001 after falling out with manager Alex Ferguson.

At Chelsea, however, things didn't get any better and he only played seven games in two years at Stamford Bridge and has not played since November 2001.

After his A test was made public on November 10 last year, he checked himself into a private clinic suffering depression and is still receiving treatment.

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