Kenny handed nine-month ban

Sheffield United keeper suspended

Last updated: 8th September 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Kenny handed nine-month ban

Kenny: Suspended

Related links

Teams

Players

Also see

Sheffield United goalkeeper Paddy Kenny has been suspended from football for nine months by the Football Association following a failed drugs test.

The Irish international failed a drugs test following last season's play-off semi-final clash with Preston North End.

The 31-year-old tested positive for the prohibited substance Ephedrine and he was charged under FA Rule E25 in relation to Regulation 2 of The FA Doping Control Programme Regulations.

He was suspended upon confirmation of his initial test on July 22, and he will now not be allowed to participate in any football until April 22, 2010.

The FA Regulatory Commission confirmed that although Kenny had 'on the balance of probability' not intentionally taken the substance - which is believed to have come from a cough medicine - they could not overlook the offence.

"The Regulatory Commission considered carefully the evidence and the submissions 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 sporting performance, his admitted conduct displayed significant fault," chairman Christopher Quinlan stated.

"A professional sportsman including a football player 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, contrary to the Doping Control Programme delivered by The FA and in any event what should be a matter of common sense for a professional sportsman, showed in our judgment a complete disregard for those responsibilities."

Comments (53)

  • Page 1 of 3
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3

Oz Performanceenhancer (Liverpool fan) says...

If this had been David James, he'd have got a reduced penalty (due to england needing him). It reeks of inconsistency, Paddy Kenny was honest from the word go and let's be honest, GK's using performance enhancing drugs? Do me a favour !

Posted 13:43 8th September 2009

Gary Walsh (Tottenham Hotspur fan) says...

In the Winter Olympic Games at Salt Lake City a British ahtlete called Alan Baxter had a medal taken away from him for testing posting for a banned drug. The drug was something found in cold medicine which is available in any shop (which he was talking for a cold). The point is real athletes are getting punished by stupid laws in there respective sports, its different if it was performance enhancing but its not. The FA should overturn Paddys ban and let him play - there needs to be more common sense in sport. This could happen to any footballer regardless of who they play for, I hope the PFA get behind Paddy and get this overturned.

Posted 12:55 8th September 2009

Jason Slater (Sheffield United fan) says...

Hopefully speaking for most Blades, we are not complaining about the fact that he has been punished. The rules were broken, Paddy accepts that, the club accepts that & the fans will, mostly, accept that. The issue is consistancy. 9 months for Kenny, 5 months for Bednar when the latter was actually caught red handed, in possession of the drugs! Especially when Bednar was suspended over the summer & therefore 3 months of his ban didn't even matter. As for drinking Cough Medicine by the pint in oder to fail the test, are you sure you've got your facts right mate?

Posted 11:33 8th September 2009

Brian Wolf (Everton fan) says...

No I cannot back this. Kenny has clearly failed the test but they are asked during the test if they have taken anything which may lead to a positive result. As far as I am aware Kenny immediately admitted that he had taken cough medicine at this point. He later said the same upon his positive reading and subsequent suspension and ban. Nine months in this instance for a substance that shows up in cough medicine and the minute amount that he would've had in his system anyway in ridiculous. Shame on you FA and your neanderthal rules.

Posted 11:11 8th September 2009

Tax Tax (Manchester United fan) says...

I think it's not fair....you cannot compear the Rio case with this one!! The FA confirms that it wasn't intentional but still gives him a 9 months ban! That's too much....

Posted 07:49 8th September 2009

Gary Jude (West Ham United fan) says...

Jamie Furniss - how can you even point the finger at Sir Trevor Brooking?? Im pretty sure that this has noting to do with what happened with the Tevez Saga, but if it is, then good. Stop moaning Shefield Utd fans (i know your very good at that) and accept that he failed a drug test. By the way, does this mean you will fine West Ham again??? Im sure you will find a way to say its our fault that Paddy failed a drug test!!!! Come on You Irons!!!!!!

Posted 07:28 8th September 2009

Benny Zalman says...

I"m a Wednesday supporter and anything bad that happens to United should be good for me. But somehow this is different , it seems a little unfair that Paddy should be banned for taking cough medicine. The rules need to be changed.

Posted 07:27 8th September 2009

Steven Ross says...

What a Joke!!! Punishing the guy for having a cold is an absolute disgrace. Sounds to me like the F.A. are on drugs!!!

Posted 07:16 8th September 2009

Joe Jaxon (Manchester United fan) says...

Comparing this to Rio's case doesn't make sense. Apples & oranges, anyone? In his case you will always have that dangerous "know one will ever know for sure" what-if question - had he taken an illegal substance or was he in fact just absent-minded (or both combined :P)? But in this instance it is a matter of an over the counter drug that is by no means performance enhancing. These two aspects combined with the fact that Kenny's given a full confession should be enough for a reduced penalty. How about letting him off with three months and a lecture regarding the matter that he needs to consult the club's medical staff the next time he's having some discomfort? Or even just a fine? I don't see any reason why this ban should be upheld other than a case where the sentence is based on a distinct paragraph that only allows a minimum of a 9 month ban. In that case either the paragraph needs to be revised or another paragraph should be written specifically with such minor cases in mind. This is ridiculous - why don't the FA focus on the major problems in the game instead?

Posted 07:05 8th September 2009

Jon Morrow says...

Ridiculus ban. He's not running the 100 meters. He's a goal keeper for god's sake!

Posted 06:51 8th September 2009

James Brown (Derby County fan) says...

He knows the rules, he has a list of what he can and can't take. It's his own fault !!!!

Posted 06:34 8th September 2009

Tony M (Manchester United fan) says...

I understand why people feel this is harsh, any of us could test positive for ephadrine if we took over the counter cough medicine. Ephedrine isn't a miracle drug anyway but thats besides the point i suppose, if it gives you even a 1% advantage then its cheating. The point is these guys get paid so much money to make sure they get all this stuff spot on so i can sympathise with him but its his own fault. The club doc would have given him something and he should have a general knowledge on what he can and cant take anyway in my opinion.

Posted 06:15 8th September 2009

Keith Todd (Liverpool fan) says...

How can anybody compare Ferdinand to Kenny. Kenny took cough medicine stupid? yes Cheating ? NO. Drugs test are so sophisticated that they would be able to tell 100% that it was cough medicine thats why the FA have made their statement. Ferdinand did not turn up for a drugs test he was called on his mobile and still choose not to turn up. Now he may not have hade anything to hide but his failure to show suggests that he did. Jaap Stam who I would guess is freindly with ferdinand tested positive for nandrolone and only recived a 5 month ban which was reduced on appeal to 4 months. So please tell me how taking over the counter cough medicine is as bad as ferdinand or worse than stam.

Posted 05:57 8th September 2009

Keith Clarke (Manchester United fan) says...

For me 9 months is very harsh for what was a legitimate mistake on Paddy's part. Referring back to the Rio incident i thought his penalty for missing a drugs test was severe at the time and this is exactly the same for me. Whoever decided on the banning lengths in both cases definitely have got no understanding of the game or how much 9 months out can effect someones football career! In my opinion the Regulatory Commision have made another woeful call.

Posted 02:59 8th September 2009

Karl Mercer says...

To clarify, the drug ephedrine is a stimulant/concentration enhancer often used by athletes due to it apparently being more effective than caffeine; although strangely caffeine is by far the stronger in terms of psychoactivity and, the massive doses available in energy drinks could easily outweigh a small amount of ephedrine from a cough medicine. What is more, true ephedrine is a controlled substance available only on subscripton in the UK. Most commonly used is psuedoephedrine, which is far less an active stimulant and, actually, pretty much just a nasal decongestant. In short, Paddy Kenny, apparently has been given a nine month ban for relieving nasal congestion while other goalkeepers can take a packet of pro-plus with two red bulls before a game and pass a drugs test afterwards. Is there anyone or anything the authorities don't want to inconsistently ban these days!?

Posted 02:55 8th September 2009

John Cooper (Blackpool fan) says...

Banned for an over the counter drug, no prescription needed, it beggars belief, steroids, sure but this. Hope it gets overturned.

Posted 02:53 8th September 2009

Sean Bryan (West Ham United fan) says...

All people who say this ban is wrong are wrong. Paddy Kenny may have taken this substance by mistake but nonetheless it is a banned substance. If u do not set the precedent of giving him a ban then any player who may take this drug in the future knowingly and willingly will just say that they "accidentally" took cough medicine with this substance in like Paddy Kenny and then will get away for cheating in the sport. I am not calling Paddy a cheat but u cant let him off for the reason i mentioned. As for people comparing it to the Rio Ferdinand ban basically u have to make the ban as long as or longer than his ban. Yes Rio Ferdinand didnt turn up for his test which does make it more suspicious but if u give someone who has failed a drugs test a shorter ban than a player who has failed to turn up for a drugs test then more players who are guilty of taking illegal substances will just fail to turn up to their tests and claim that they "forgot" as they know or will at least expect to get a lesser sentence. So as harsh as Paddy Kennys ban may seem the FA has to set a precedent or the lesser characters within the sport will just exploit the system which cannot be allowed or tolerated. Also for the conspiracy theorist this has nothing to do with the Tevez saga and Sheffield Utd this is something to do with the FA setting a standard. You're just paranoid

Posted 02:05 8th September 2009

Peter Corcoran says...

Absolutely pathethic decision. My heart goes out to him, cough medicine!! Garbage, the world has completely gone mad. This is an instance when all football supporters should rally around and do something to support this guy.

Posted 01:28 8th September 2009

Nick Mitton (Wolverhampton Wanderers fan) says...

why is everyone jumping to the defence of paddy kenny? he is getting paid thousands for kicking a ball around!! the least he could do is check what he is taking, or pay someone to do it for him!! if i were getting paid that much for kicking a ball around, i'd take as much care as possible to make sure it wasn'nt taken away from me!!!!

Posted 00:55 8th September 2009

Simon Balmforth (sheff weds fan) says...

Paddy Kenny is a footballer not a clinician. He will have taken this over the counter cough medicine to relieve the symptoms of a common cold - just like any of us would have done. To suggest that he has done anything wrong is scandalous. To be cast into the same catagory as a drugs cheat or even a recreational drug taker is simply disgraceful. As a Wednesday fan, I like nothing more than to beat the old enemy, fairly and squarely. Paddy Kenny is Sheffield United first choice keeper on merit. How the FA can allow a great example of commitment and ability to be thrown to the wolves, for making an obvious mistake is sickening. He may as well have spent his summer snorting, injecting and poping as many drugs as is possible - as people will now quite ridiculously put him in the same catagory anyway. Get your head down Paddy - 9 months will soon pass. I hope you get back asap and wipe the smile of off the faces of these politically correct administrators. THE FA SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES.

Posted 00:49 8th September 2009
  • Page 1 of 3
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3

Add Comment*

Send us your views

Are you a Sky Sports subscriber?

*All fields required, your email address will be kept private