Josh Yorwerth in line to receive longest ban in history of English professional football having ignored drug testers after taking class A substance last year
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PETERBOROUGH star Josh Yorwerth is facing a four year ban for ducking out of a drug test having taken cocaine.
Yorwerth is in line to serve the longest suspension in English professional football history after dodging giving a sample to testers.
The former Wales under-21 international now faces his career in the game being potentially wrecked - when he could have only been hit with a three-month punishment had he actually failed a dope test.
The say the 23-year-old got into trouble earlier this season when anti-doping testers turned up at his home in September.
Yorwerth has admitted to an FA disciplinary panel that he had taken cocaine the previous weekend.
But the former Crawley star decided not to answer the door to the testers, in the belief that providing a positive sample would see him suspended for two years.
In fact, had he provided a sample and failed the test, the maximum penalty he could have been hit with under current regulations would be a three month ban while also retaining anonymity.
His rash decision to ignore the testers has resulted in disciplinary action being taken and Yorwerth admitted his part at an FA hearing said to have taken place last week.
It has left the FA with little option but to hand the ex-Cardiff trainee the mandatory four-year ban for evading a drugs test under their regulations.
Yorwerth does have the right to appeal against the sentence, and is yet to decide whether to go through that process.
But the mistaken belief he was facing an automatic two-year ban for a positive cocaine test, and not three months, has also raised eyebrows with the authorities.
Both the FA and the PFA work to educate players on the use of drugs, and any potential sanctions, yet Yorwerth's lack of understanding has led to concerns over the effectiveness of those programmes.
No official punishment has yet been confirmed by the FA, who said: "This is an ongoing case so it would not be appropriate for us to comment further at this time."
Peterborough have yet to comment.
