Brentford midfielder Alan Judge warned by FA over anti-doping policy breach

Alan Judge: The midfielder has been warned after high levels of salbutamol were found in his system
Bryn Lennon/Getty Images
James Benge28 May 2016

Brentford midfielder Alan Judge has been warned by the Football Association after breaching its anti-doping regulations.

The Republic of Ireland international suffers from asthma and was found with high levels of salbutamol in his system following a match in August.

He has been warned as to his future conduct, issued with a reprimand and will be target tested for the next two years.

A statement on the FA's website said the Bees' player of the year "was charged after the presence of salbutamol, above the permitted threshold (used via an asthma inhaler) was found in his system and considered not to be an intended therapeutic use of the substance".

Judge, who had been ruled out of Euro 2016 after suffering a serious leg break while playing for Brentford in April, denied the charge but it was found proven following an Independent Regulatory Commission hearing on Wednesday.

The statement added: "The sanction set by the Regulatory Commission was in accordance with the provisions relating to No Significant Fault or Negligence."

Sky Bet Championship club Brentford released a statement clarifying the situation.

It read: "Alan has suffered from exercise-induced asthma since he was a child and was given permission to use the inhaler.

"Following a match last August, Alan's levels of salbutamol from his inhaler use were found to be slightly above the threshold. However, in mitigation, he provided a full explanation of the circumstances surrounding this.

"The FA found the case proven due to the level of salbutamol but acknowledged Alan's strong arguments in mitigation by issuing a decision which confirmed that he demonstrated 'no significant fault or negligence'.

"The club will not be making any further comment."

In April, Liverpool defender Mamadou Sakho was suspended for 30 days by UEFA for an alleged anti-doping violation, reported to have been for a fat-burning drug.

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