Kenny banned for nine months
Kenny will not return until April 2010.
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Tuesday, 08, Sep 2009 10:24
By Darren Plant.
Sheffield United goalkeeper Paddy Kenny has been banned from football for nine months after failing a drugs test.
The banned substance, Ephedrine, was found in a routine sample after Sheffield United's match with Preston North End on May 11th.
The Irishman was subsequently suspended by his club, and will not return to football until April 22nd 2010.
The regulatory commission chairman Christopher Quinlan said: "The regulatory commission considered carefully the evidence and submission from both parties.
"Whilst we found that the player satisfied us on the balance of probabilities that the substance was not taken with the intention of enhancing sports performance, his admitted conduct displayed significant fault.
"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."
Sheffield United manager Kevin Blackwell had sympathy for Kenny and revealed that the club are considering appealing the ban.
Blackwell said: "Paddy is devastated and has gone home.
"I find it hard to believe the severity of the ban considering that it was accepted that the substance was not taken for performance enhancement.
"There is an appeal procedure and we will sit down over the next few days and discuss the situation fully with all concerned."
Blackwell also warned all professional footballers to be wary of any medicine that they may take in the future.
"All players will be under the strictest scrutiny, whether that be at training, matches, home or holiday," he continued.
"If they feel ill and reach for the medicine cabinet, they must be completely sure that what they take does not contain anything on the banned list, however innocuously it might be taken."