POSH ACE’S FOUR-YEAR DRUG BAN
A PROfESSIONAL footballer is set to be banned for four years for dodging an anti-doping test after taking cocaine.
Peterborough United defender Josh Yorwerth, 23, faces the suspension following an fA hearing at which he admitted using the drug.
The proposed ban is thought to be the longest in professional English football history for an antidoping offence and will effectively wreck the former Wales Under 21 international’s career.
Testers turned up at the player’s home on a weekday in September. He had taken cocaine over the previous weekend and falsely believed that a positive test would result in a two-year ban rather than the maximum three months under anti-doping regulations.
Had he taken the test he would also have remained anonymous — even if it had been positive.
Yorwerth’s subsequent decision not to answer the door led to an fA hearing at Wembley last week where he was handed the mandatory four-year ban for test evasion, leaving his future in the game in ruins — although he can appeal against the sentence. His misguided actions are understood to have raised questions over the education of footballers on the use of drugs and the penalties involved.
The fA are yet to announce the punishment. A spokesman said: ‘This is an ongoing case so it would not be appropriate for us to comment further at this time.’
Peterborough did not wish to comment. Yorwerth has made three appearances, last playing in September, since joining League One Posh in July for an undisclosed fee.
Then Peterborough manager Steve Evans, sacked in January, said: ‘There is absolutely no doubt that we have signed the best central defender from League Two.’
Born in Bridgend, Yorwerth came through the ranks at Cardiff City and previously played for Ipswich Town and Crawley.
In 2003, before rules were strengthened, Rio ferdinand was given an eight-month ban after failing to attend a test, stating he had forgotten that it was scheduled. He passed a test 24 hours later.