Unnamed 16-year-old at Premier League club banned for nine months by UK Anti-Doping Agency for possession of growth hormone
- UK Anti-Doping Agency have not revealed name of guilty party, who is 16
- Player was found in possession of a pen-type dispenser containing somatropin
- Substance is human growth hormone and he has been banned for nine months
A 16-year-old footballer at a Premier League club has been banned for nine months for possession of a banned substance, breaking anti-doping rules.
The player, whose age and club has been redacted from the report, was found in possession of a ‘pen-type dispenser’ containing growth hormone somatropin when he was 15 years old.
The player had also been charged for using the growth hormone but an independent regulatory commission found that claim to be unproven.
A player at a Premier League clubhas been given a backdated nine-month ban
Martin Ziegler, chief sports reporter for the Times, also revealed that the parents of the player tried to cover up the offence.
His ban has been back-dated and the nine-month suspension will conclude on May 7.
The FA put together an independent Regulatory Commission and the case was heard back in January this year.
‘Athletes, their parents and the teams they play for, all have a role to play in helping to keep sport clean,’ UK Anti-Doping director of operations Pat Myhill said in a statement.
The young player in question and his club have not been named due to his age
‘This case demonstrates that the anti-doping rules apply to all athletes, regardless of age, and serves as an important reminder of the serious consequences that can apply if those rules are broken.
‘If you are responsible for a young athlete, you should take a proactive approach to ensure their participation in clean sport and help to protect them from the risks of doping.’
UKAD provided additional information about the substance in question, writing: ‘Somatropin is a Growth Hormone. Growth Hormones are banned under section S2.3 of the WADA 2019 Prohibited List. Somatropin is a non-Specified Substance and is prohibited at all times.’