Toure banned for six months

Manchester City defender Kolo Toure will be unavailable until September after being given a six-month suspension for drug offences.

Centre-back Toure, an 85-cap Ivory Coast international, admitted to breaking Regulation Three of the Football Association’s Doping Regulations 2010-11.

The ban is back-dated to March 2, when his provisional suspension began.

He will be available again from September 2.

Toure, 30, returned a positive A-sample after undergoing a test in February.

He allegedly took his wife’s water tablets in an attempt to reduce his weight.

“This has been a difficult period, and I am sad to have missed the team’s triumph of securing Champions League football and the FA Cup,” Toure said.

“But I am relieved that I will be able to return to football in September and thank the FA’s commission for their understanding.”

The independent regulatory commission, led by Christopher Quinlan QC, were satisfied Toure did not intend to enhance his sporting performance or mask the use of performance-enhancing substances.

He could have been banned for up to two years and will be target-tested for two years from May 26.