Former Irish international goalkeeper banned for doping

Former Republic of Ireland international goalkeeper Paddy Kenny was banned for nine months on Monday for testing positive for the banned ubstance ephedrine.

The 31-year-old Sheffield United guardian failed the test following the Championship second leg play-off semi-final against Preston which saw United progress to the final where they lost to Burnley.

However, while the Football Association’s Regulatory Commission judged Kenny – who won the last of his seven caps for the Republic in 2006 – not to have taken the drug to enhance his performance it still found fault with his conduct.

“Whilst we found that the player satisfied us on the balance of probabilities that the substance was not taken with the intention of enhancing sporting performance, his admitted conduct displayed significant fault,” said Commission chairman, Christopher Quinlan.

“A professional sportsman has a strict responsibility to ensure prohibited substances do not enter his/her body.

“In this instance Mr Kenny knowingly ingested an over-the-counter medicine above the prescribed dosage without reading the accompanying package or leaflet and without reference to his club’s doctor or other medical staff.

“It is incumbent upon all professional footballers to understand the perils and dangers of so doing and to act in the way he did showed in our judgment a complete disregard for those responsibilities.”

Sheffield United manager Kevin Blackwell was stunned at the length of the ban which will see Kenny, who has made nearly 300 appearances for the Blades since joining in 2002, available for selection in April next year as his suspension dates back to July 22.

“The Commission accepted he didn’t take the drug for performance enhancing, it was a course of tablets to relieve his chest – so we’re a little surprised he’s been done for nine months.

“I don’t understand the length of the ban. It’s unbelievable.

“The reasoning will be submitted to the powers that be in the next 48 hours and we’ll have a look at it. There is every chance of appealing against this, but at the moment we’ll look at all our options.

“Paddy’s devastated. At no time did he think it would come to this – it’s a major lesson to every sportsman or woman out there. This case shows that before a player takes anything out of his medicine cabinet he has to check it intently.”