Brentford’s Judge warned over doping breach

Brentford’s Alan Judge has been reprimanded by the Football Association and told he will be target-tested for two years after a breach of anti-doping regulations.

The FA charged the Bees midfielder after Salbutamol above the permitted threshold was found in his system following a game in August. He was given the sanction after a hearing on Wednesday.

Brentford said Judge had been cleared to use a Salbutamol inhaler to treat exercise-induced asthma.

The Irishman, who missed the final weeks of the campaign after breaking his leg at Ipswich, scored 14 goals in 38 league matches this season.

Salbutamol eases the symptom of asthma and other lung-related conditions but any use by athletes must be declared.

A Brentford statement said: “Alan has suffered from exercise-induced asthma since he was a child and was given permission to use the inhaler.

“Following a match last August, Alan’s levels of Salbutamol from his inhaler use were found to be slightly above the threshold – however, in mitigation, he provided a full explanation of the circumstances surrounding this.

“The FA found the case proven due to the level of Salbutamol but acknowledged Alan’s strong arguments in mitigation.”

The FA said he was warned as to his future conduct as the case came under the ‘no significant fault or negligence’ regulations.