- Two footballers test positive for banned substance
- Play in top four tiers of English football
- Escape a sanction for 2023/24 failed test
Getty Images SportPremier League & EFL players 'escaped sanctions' despite testing positive for banned substance during 2023-24 season

Peacock Premium
✅ Streams roughly 175 exclusive live matches per season that are completely blacked out on traditional TV.
✅ Acts as the league's US archive, providing full on-demand match replays shortly after every live broadcast concludes.
✅ Streams the popular "Goal Rush" whip-around show, which jumps between live highlights during the packed Saturday 10:00 a.m. ET window.

Sling TV
✅ Provides nationwide access to USA Network, securing the primary cable home for the league's linear broadcasts.
✅ Includes access to live, local NBC affiliates for the marquee weekend matches in designated major media markets.
✅ Serves as the cheapest way to access live cable TV sports channels without paying for a bloated traditional bundle.

DirecTV
✅ Carries both USA Network and your local NBC station, ensuring you get every nationally televised match.
✅ Includes unlimited cloud DVR storage so you can easily record and save early morning fixtures.
✅ Replicates the classic set-top box feel with a familiar channel guide, making it easy to channel-surf on weekend mornings.

Peacock Premium
✅ Streams roughly 175 exclusive live matches per season that are completely blacked out on traditional TV.
✅ Acts as the league's US archive, providing full on-demand match replays shortly after every live broadcast concludes.
✅ Streams the popular "Goal Rush" whip-around show, which jumps between live highlights during the packed Saturday 10:00 a.m. ET window.

Sling TV
✅ Provides nationwide access to USA Network, securing the primary cable home for the league's linear broadcasts.
✅ Includes access to live, local NBC affiliates for the marquee weekend matches in designated major media markets.
✅ Serves as the cheapest way to access live cable TV sports channels without paying for a bloated traditional bundle.

DirecTV
✅ Carries both USA Network and your local NBC station, ensuring you get every nationally televised match.
✅ Includes unlimited cloud DVR storage so you can easily record and save early morning fixtures.
✅ Replicates the classic set-top box feel with a familiar channel guide, making it easy to channel-surf on weekend mornings.

Peacock Premium
✅ Streams roughly 175 exclusive live matches per season that are completely blacked out on traditional TV.
✅ Acts as the league's US archive, providing full on-demand match replays shortly after every live broadcast concludes.
✅ Streams the popular "Goal Rush" whip-around show, which jumps between live highlights during the packed Saturday 10:00 a.m. ET window.
WHAT HAPPENED?
According to The Athletic, two players tested positive for a banned substance during the tests carried out after Premier League and English Football League games last season. The report adds it is unclear what substances were found in the samples or why they escaped punishment.
THE BIGGER PICTURE
The report adds that the number of tests carried out by UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) has dropped a significant amount year on year. In 2023-24, 2,176 tests across the Premier League, Championship, League One and League Two were carried out, compared to 2,546 in those four divisions the year before. That is an 11 per cent fall in testing which is a worrying statistic and raises a lot of questions.
WHAT THE FA SAID
The English Football Association told The Athletic: “We take anti-doping in English football extremely seriously. We are fully compliant with the National Anti-Doping Policy of the UK government’s Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport; fund one of world sport’s leading anti-doping programmes; and input into targeted, researched and intelligence-led drug testing that is directed by UK Anti-Doping. We also operate our own dedicated social drugs programme to safeguard the physical and mental wellbeing of footballers; and to uphold the values and ethics of the sport.”
Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT?
One player who is currently suspended after returning an adverse finding in a urine test last November is Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk. The Ukrainian has denied any wrongdoing and is awaiting what punishment, if any, will be handed to him.
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