Chioma Ubogagu: Tottenham Women forward banned for nine months over doping violation

Tottenham Hotspur's England-capped winger Chioma Ubogagu has been given a nine-month ban from all sport after testing positive for a banned substance, Canrenone.

The 29-year-old former Arsenal, Orlando Pride and Real Madrid forward was found to have Canrenone, which is a banned diuretic, in her urine sample during testing carried out by UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) last October.

In December, when she was informed of the finding, Ubogagu respectively applied for a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) but this was rejected. She was provisionally suspended by the Football Association on January 18.

At a hearing in April, Ubogagu admitted the charge, with Tottenham stating she was taking medication prescribed to her to treat the skin condition acne, while she was playing in the USA - where the substance is not prohibited - and that she did not realise it was banned in the UK.

Her nine-month ban will run until October this year, having been deemed to have started in January upon her provisional suspension.

“I am so sorry to my team-mates and staff that I can’t be out on the pitch," she said in a statement on Tottenham's website. “I want to make clear that the medication had no performance-enhancing effects for me, but I still made the mistake of not being as diligent as possible, and as a result I am unable to play the game I love until I serve my suspension.

"While my dermatologist is aware of my profession, it is also my responsibility to know more about the medications I am prescribed. I plan to share my story and educate others on the severity of what can happen, and I hope I can help other athletes avoid situations like mine in the future.”

Ubogagu has played three times for England non-competitively in the 2018-18 season but not since. She was born in London but has also been eligible to play for Nigeria or the United States, whom she played for at youth level throughout her youth international career.

A statement from UKAD said that the FA's regulatory commission acknowledged Ubogagu "did not deliberately" take a banned substance but that "it also recognised that she took no steps to check if the medication contained banned substances".

UKAD's director of operations Pat Myhill added: “Athletes must check all medication they are taking against the WADA Prohibited List. Such a simple step can save you making a mistake that can result in a ban from sport.

“Ms Ubogagu’s case shows how easy it is to fall foul of the rules and highlights the serious consequences which follow. It should serve as a warning to all athletes and coaches.”