16-year-old footballer banned for nine months for taking banned substance

He was found with a banned growth hormone

A 16-year-old footballer has been banned from all sport for nine months for an anti-doping offence. The name of the footballer has not been revealed due to their age. The player was found in possession of a dispenser containing a growth hormone called somatropin, which is banned at all times under the WADA 2019 Prohibited List. The FA charged the player last summer when he was 15 years old, alleging a breach of their 2019/20 Anti-Doping Regulations. The case was then looked at in January 2021 by an independent Regulatory Commission, who sanctioned the teenager with a nine month ban. The ban will end in May this year, however, with the time the player spent suspended by the FA last year considered part of the ban. UK Anti-Doping Director of Operations, Pat Myhill said: "Athletes, their parents and the teams they play for, all have a role to play in helping to keep sport clean. 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."