Premier League stars among NINE players who have used banned substances since 2022

Nine footballers have been found to have used banned substances since 2022, according to figures. However, none of the individuals are understood to have faced bans as a result.

The latest numbers relate to incidents during the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons. This means is not included in the statistics.

News of winger Mydryk's positive test came to light in December 2024, after he had made a number of appearances for the Blues earlier in the season. The international categorically denies knowingly taking any banned substances.

According to , citing UKAD figures, four players - including two attached to clubs - tested positive last year. UKAD has confirmed to Mirror Football that seven of the nine individuals returning a positive test are not guilty of any Anti-Doping Rule Violation, with the outcome of the final two - both from 2024 - have not been disclosed.

The nine individuals to test positive so far have all been permitted to continue turning out for their clubs, the Sun claims, while reportedly accepted that the substances in question were taken for medical purposes or “via a permitted route”. The nine positive tests include players testing positive for substances including amfetamine, tamoxifen and triamcinolone acetonide, UKAD says.

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In 2023, it emerged that UK Anti-Doping had over the previous five seasons, with fourteen of those were given to nine different Premier League players across the time period. UKAD explains that TUEs are among the reasons why a positive test might not necessarily lead to an Anti-Doping Rule Violation

Athletes given TUEs are permitted to use ordinarily banned substances or techniques to treat health issues. Players are required to apply for a TUE before taking the substance in question.

"If a Player with a legitimate medical condition needs to use a prohibited substance or method, they will need to apply for a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE)," . "This is only accepted if there are no other suitable permitted medications or treatments that can be used, and there is a strict, detailed process to determine this. "

A report in March from , citing a Freedom of Information request with UK Anti-Doping, said two male footballers in the top four tiers of English football had returned positive tests in the 2023-24 season. The names and substances were not shared for confidentiality reasons.

“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 sport’s leading anti-doping programmes; and input into targeted, researched and intelligence-led drug testing that is directed by UK Anti-Doping," the FA told The Athletic at the time. “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.”

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