Decisive action: City moved to discipline Toure -
who has featured 22 times for City in the Barclays Premier League
this season
Manchester City defender Kolo Toure could be
banned for as long as two years and has been suspended from all
levels of football after failing a drugs test, it emerged on
Thursday night.
The Ivory Coast centre half was dropped from the City team
that beat Aston Villa in the FA Cup on Wednesday night after an ‘A’
sample given at a previous game came back positive.
It was unclear on Thursday night whether Toure’s sample
contained traces of a recreational drug or one from the
performance-enhancing list.
Sources suggested that the former City captain may have
taken an illegal dietary aid without knowing it contained the
substance.
Even so, this will not be looked upon kindly by the
FA.
Every athlete in the country is given a list of banned
substances by UK Sport and it seems Toure did not consult this or
indeed check his supplements with City’s club doctor.
What is known is that Toure will not be able to play again
until his ‘B sample’ is tested and the FA disciplinary process is
complete.
If the substance were to be recreational, the former
Arsenal player could also face criminal proceedings.
This is thought to be unlikely, given that Toure is a
devout Muslim and does not even drink alcohol.
The 29-year-old — signed by Mark Hughes for City two
summers ago — will certainly miss this weekend’s game against Wigan
and it would appear he is likely to miss a substantial part, if not
all, of the club’s run-in.
Typical penalties for these offences run to between four
and nine months.
A City statement released on Thursday night said:
‘Manchester City can confirm that the FA has informed Kolo Toure
that an ‘A sample’ provided by him tested positive for a specified
substance.
‘As a result of this, he has been suspended from
participating in all first-team matches pending the outcome of the
legal process.’
The World Anti-Doping Agency
defines a specified substance as one that is ‘more susceptible to a
credible, non-doping explanation’.
This would appear to rule out
drugs such as cocaine or marijuana.
However, the WADA punishment for
such a positive test ranges from a warning to a two-year
ban.
A source close to the
drug-testing procedure told Sportsmail last night: ‘At the least,
Toure has been very stupid. At worst, it could be more
sinister.’
Toure joined City for £14million
in 2009, ending a seven-year association with Arsenal.
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger had
signed him from Ivorian side Mimosas and he went on to captain
Arsenal on a number of occasions before heading to Eastlands, where
he served as club captain under Hughes until he was succeeded by
Carlos Tevez for this season.
Known and respected throughout
the Barclays Premier League as a true and honest professional,
Toure should nevertheless be aware that punishments for doping
offences do not often make room for sentiment or
excuses.
Problems: Toure's ban will force Roberto Mancini to
reshuffle his defence
Former Sheffield United
goalkeeper Paddy Kenny was banned for nine months after taking a
stimulant contained in a cold cure while Hamilton’s Simon Mensing
was suspended for four weeks.
Two South African rugby players
were found guilty of taking the banned substance methylhexaneamine
in the UK, even though it had been cleared by SA
authorities.
Toure’s expected ban will leave
City manager Roberto Mancini with a headache. Toure has formed an
impressive central partnership with Belgian Vincent
Kompany.
Who
has to take a drugs test?
Players are randomly selected
and give their sample at half time. This is split into an ‘A
sample’ and ‘B sample’. If the A sample tests positive for a banned
substance, the player is informed before the B sample is examined.
The player can be present for the B sample test, which happens no
more than five days after the A sample test.
What
happens if the B sample comes back negative?
No further action is
taken.
What
are the banned substances?
There are 10 main groups:
anabolic steroids, peptide hormones, growth factors, beta-2
agonists, hormone antagonists and modulators, masking agents,
stimulants (such as cocaine), narcotics (such as heroin),
cannabinoids (as found in cannabis) and
glucocorticosteroids.
Are
some substances treated as more serious than others?
Yes. A positive test for a
‘performance-enhancing’ drug results in an immediate FA disrepute
charge. If the drug is only on the list of ‘prohibited substances’,
the player will be interviewed by the FA to see if a disrepute
charge is appropriate. Toure’s alleged offence seems to be in the
latter category.
And
if he is found guilty?
Punishments for a positive test
range from a warning to a two-year ban.
How
could a player escape punishment?
He would have to prove ‘no fault
or negligence’ in allowing the substance to enter his
body.
Could
the FA take action against Manchester City?
Only if more than two players
from their team are found to have committed a doping
offence.
ALEX KAY