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Sacked Chelsea striker Adrian Mutu has been handed a seven-month ban for a positive cocaine test.
An FA statement said Mutu was suspended for seven months "subject to completing a programme of education and rehabilitation".
He was also fined £20,000 and will be subject to target testing throughout the period of the suspension.
Mutu, 25, was at Soho Square for the Football Association hearing and had already said he will not appeal.
The suspension is backdated to start on 25 October.
It will end on 18 May - meaning he will not return to action before next season at the earliest.
The commission took into account Mutu's admission of guilt.
The fact he had already booked into a rehabilitation program was also expected to go in his favour.
Professional Footballers' Association chief Gordon Taylor said: "He is now looking forward to getting his career back on track.
"We are appreciative of the Football Association's attitude with the emphasis on education and rehabiliatation. We had a full and fair hearing.
"Adrian has admitted the charge in mitigation and accepted his responsibility from the very beginning.
"He's sorry for the problem that has been caused and wants to restore his good name."
Mutu had his contract terminated on the grounds of 'gross misconduct' under Chelsea's 'zero-tolerance' policy on the use of drugs, a decision criticised by PFA officials.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/c/chelsea/3973219.stm
So in the eye of FA its worse to miss a drugs test rather than fail one and take concaine. (:/)
An FA statement said Mutu was suspended for seven months "subject to completing a programme of education and rehabilitation".
He was also fined £20,000 and will be subject to target testing throughout the period of the suspension.
Mutu, 25, was at Soho Square for the Football Association hearing and had already said he will not appeal.
The suspension is backdated to start on 25 October.
It will end on 18 May - meaning he will not return to action before next season at the earliest.
The commission took into account Mutu's admission of guilt.
The fact he had already booked into a rehabilitation program was also expected to go in his favour.
Professional Footballers' Association chief Gordon Taylor said: "He is now looking forward to getting his career back on track.
"We are appreciative of the Football Association's attitude with the emphasis on education and rehabiliatation. We had a full and fair hearing.
"Adrian has admitted the charge in mitigation and accepted his responsibility from the very beginning.
"He's sorry for the problem that has been caused and wants to restore his good name."
Mutu had his contract terminated on the grounds of 'gross misconduct' under Chelsea's 'zero-tolerance' policy on the use of drugs, a decision criticised by PFA officials.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/c/chelsea/3973219.stm
So in the eye of FA its worse to miss a drugs test rather than fail one and take concaine. (:/)
