5 Famous footballers who have been banned for doping

• Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk is the latest top player in the football world to find himself in trouble for violating anti-doping rules
• Mudryk is not allowed to train with his Chelsea teammates and has instead been on individual fitness program at home
• Diego Maradona’s career has been tainted by various controversies, ranging from struggling with drug and alcohol addiction to doping

Sportsleo takes a look at famous footballers who have been banned for doping. Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk is the latest top player in the football world to find himself in trouble for violating anti-doping rules.

The Ukrainian winger was provisionally suspended by the FA in December 2024 after an “adverse finding in a routine urine test”. He responded by saying that the results shocked him and he had never willingly used a prohibited substance. He faces a ban of up to four years and has not played for Chelsea since November 28.

Mudryk is not allowed to train with his Chelsea teammates and has instead been on individual fitness program at home. As the football world awaits the verdict of the 24-year-old’s case, we take a look at five other famous footballers who have been banned for doping.

1. Diego Maradona

Diego Maradona. Photo/ VOA News.

One of the most prominent figures in football, Diego Maradona is a name that many resonates with in the football world. Despite hanging his boots in 1997, the Argentine is still considered one of the best football players of all time by managers, players and even his teammates.

However, Maradona’s career has been tainted by various controversies, ranging from struggling with drug and alcohol addiction to doping. In 1991, he was banned from football for 15 months after testing positive for cocaine while at Napoli.

Maradona went on to lead Argentina at the 1994 FIFA World Cup, scoring one of the best goals of the tournament against Greece. However, he was sent home after the goal because of failing another drug test.

Maradona’s third positive drug test, which came after a season-opening victory by his Boca Juniors in 1997, led him to retire from football. The World Cup was an addict of cocaine from 1984 to 2004. He passed away on 25 November 2020 at the age of 60.

2. Pep Guardiola 

Current Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is one of the footballers who have been banned for doping. In 2001, Guardiola failed a drug test after the banned substance nandrolene was identified in his blood stream.

The former Barcelona midfielder insisted that he was innocent and battled in court for six years. Eventually, he cleared the his name in 2007.

But the allegations emerged again in 2008 and Guardiola had to fight once more to clear his name. He did win the case the following year and has since been busy with his managerial career. He has led Barcelona, Bayern Munich and is currently the brains behind Manchester City’s dominance in the football.

Pep Guardiola. Photo/ Manchester City FC.

3. Kolo Toure 

Kolo Toure, the brother to Manchester City’s legendary midfielder Yaya Toure, was hit with a six-month ban during his time with the Cytizens. This was after he tested positive for a banned substance.

The Ivorian did defended himself by saying he took his wife’s diet pills, which led to the positive results. Despite the commission that investigated him being contended with his response, he still served the ban.

4. Edgar Davids

Another top player on the list of footballers who have been banned, Edgar Davids tested positive for the banned substance anabolic steroid nandrolone in 2001. Just Pogba, he was at the time playing for Juventus and also denied taking the drug.

Davids continued to play afterwards and enjoyed spells at Inter Milan, Tottenham Hotspur, Crystal Palace and Ajax before retiring. The Dutch then transitioned to coaching and was the assistant manager of the Netherlands national team in 2022.

5. Deco

Deco. Photo/ Bleacher Report.

Another popular name on the list of footballers who have been banned for doping is Deco. Interestingly, his ban came after he had ended his career, but he still chose to appeal like many other athletes.

Deco reportedly tested positive for doping in March 2013. His blood contained traces of furosemide, a diuretic that can be used to mask traces of other substances. Luckily foe him, he kept playing until August that year when he announced his retirement. Four days after ending his career, he was banned from football.