Sheffield United suspend keeper Kenny after Irish star's failed drugs test

07 July 2009 16:05
Sheffield United have suspended goalkeeper Paddy Kenny after his failed drugs test. The 31-year-old star has been found guilty of taking a banned substance in a medicine. 'We can confirm that Paddy Kenny has been suspended by the club.This is an ongoing, confidential matter and as such we are unable tocomment further,' read a club statement. The incident is believed to have taken place before the Championship play-off semi-final with Preston last season. Kenny, who failed both the A and B tests, could be handed a long ban by the authorities. He is believed to have taken the banned stimulant ephedrine in a cough mixture bought over the counter at a chemist, rather than using United's medical resources. Ephedrine is on the list of the World Anti-Doping Agency's specified substances but is contained in some cold cures, and a positive test does not carry the usual automatic two-year suspension. Since 2007 however, four rugby players - two from rugby union and two from rugby league - have all been served with two-year bans after testing positive for ephedrine. In three of those cases, the players involved took ephedrine tablets before a match, while in the fourth case the source of the stimulant was unclear. In order to minimise his punishment, Kenny will have to attempt to prove that he did not take the drug in order to enhance his performance, and that it came in the form of an over-the-counter cough mixture or similar cold cure. Former Sheffield United manager Neil Warnock insisted Kenny would never have taken anything deliberately. Warnock told BBC Radio Sheffield: 'Anybody who knows Paddy will tell you he wouldn't have done this deliberately. 'He's a smashing lad but can be a bit daft and because of that he can get himself into situations and unfortunately this could be the biggest of the lot. 'There does seem to be a feeling that the FA will be looking to make an example of somebody but I hope it's looked upon as a genuine mistake and he only receives a minimum ban.  'He is definitely not a cheat.'

Source: Daily_Mail