DRUGS TEST:SHEFFIELD UNITED goalkeeper Paddy Kenny is facing the prospect of a two-year ban after testing positive for a banned substance during the English Championship play-offs at the end of last season.

The Republic of Ireland international has already been suspended by his club pending the outcome of a disciplinary hearing after testing positive for the stimulant ephedrine.

Kenny provided a positive sample during a routine test following United’s semi-final against Preston North End. His case will be heard by the English Football Association and, if found guilty, Kenny could be hit with a maximum ban of two years.

In a brief statement released yesterday morning, his club confirmed Kenny had been suspended with immediate effect but refused to comment any further.

“We can confirm that Paddy Kenny has been suspended by the club,” a club spokesman said. “This is an ongoing, confidential matter and as such we are unable to comment further.”

The FA and UK Sport, the agency that carried out the test, have yet to comment on the matter.

Ephedrine is on the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (Wada) list of specified substances but can be found in some cold cures and decongestants. It is not contained in many products such as Lemsip, Benylin and Sudafed, but can be found in herbal remedies available in chemist shops. As such, a positive test does not carry the usual automatic two-year suspension.

Kenny is expected to argue that he unwittingly took the stimulant in the form of an over-the-counter medicine. If the FA accepts that it was a bona fide mistake, he could yet escape with a reprimand as to his future conduct.

Nonetheless, the drug’s presence in over-the-counter medicines should not detract from the fact it is a powerful stimulant and penalties for its misuse are severe.

It was ephedrine, it should be remembered, that was found in Diego Maradona’s urine sample at the 1994 World Cup and led to him being sent home in disgrace and later banned for 15 months.

In Britain, four rugby players (two in rugby union, two in rugby league) have been hit with two-year bans since 2007 after testing positive for the drug.

Kenny, with just seven caps to his name, has not played for Ireland since the 5-2 Euro 2008 qualifying drubbing at the hands of Cyprus in October 2006.

That humiliating night in Nicosia, the nadir of Steve Staunton’s ill-fated reign in charge of the national side, was to be his last appearance to date in an Irish shirt. Given that his previous experience for Ireland had seen him concede four times against Holland and his confidence had been shot to pieces, that Staunton would cut him loose was perhaps understandable.

Yet, there remained a feeling that the goalkeeper was being forced to carry the can for the team’s collective shortcomings. That his personal life imploded in and around the same time, with lurid stories about his marriage splashed across the tabloids hardly helped matters.

There had, nevertheless, been talk of Kenny returning to the international fold earlier this summer in the wake of Dean Kiely’s impromptu exit from the squad prior to the Bulgaria qualifier.

Having let it be known to Alan Kelly last year he was available if selected, Kenny’s impressive form for his club in the latter half of the season led to speculation of a recall.

As it happened, Giovanni Trapattoni opted instead to bring in Wayne Henderson and Colin Doyle as cover for Shay Given and Kenny has yet to feature in a squad under the Italian.

Despite being transfer listed by his club over Christmas for poor time-keeping, Kenny returned to the Sheffield United starting line-up and was instrumental in their push for promotion.

Manager Kevin Blackwell was so impressed that he described Kenny as the most important goalkeeper in the division and rewarded him with a new contract at the end of May. Whether he gets to see out that contract is now in the hands of the FA.

Former United manager Neil Warnock insisted Kenny would never have taken anything deliberately. “Anybody who knows Paddy will tell you he wouldn’t have done this deliberately,” Warnock said yesterday. “He’s a smashing lad but can be a bit daft and because of that he can get himself into situations and unfortunately this could be the biggest of the lot.

“There does seem to be a feeling that the FA will be looking to make an example of somebody, but I hope it’s looked upon as a genuine mistake and he only receives a minimum ban. He is definitely not a cheat.”