Sheffield United's Baxter and Wolves' McCarey suspended over failed drug tests

Written By Matthew Scott
JoseBaxter - cropped
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Sheffield United forward Jose Baxter and Wolves goalkeeper Aaron McCarey have both been suspended after failing drug tests.

League One's United confirmed on Saturday that Baxter had failed an out-of-competition screening, with the club now awaiting the outcome of further investigations into the matter.

And shortly after that news broke, Wolves also released a statement with regards to their reserve goalkeeper McCarey, which revealed he had also failed a Football Association (FA) doping control for a "non performance-enhancing substance".

Both players deny any deliberate wrongdoing.

The suspensions come just a day after Jake Livermore was removed from duty by Hull City and the FA having also failed a doping test, allegedly due to the presence of cocaine in his bloodstream.

A former Everton prodigy, once considered as having the potential to follow in fellow Goodison Park graduate Wayne Rooney's footsteps, Baxter's career has failed to live up to that initial hype.

He was arrested in 2009 when a car he was travelling in was found to have had cannabis and forged money in it, although he was later released without charge.

Confirming his suspension on Saturday, Sheffield United said: "The player [Baxter] has informed the club that he engaged in no wrongdoing involving any banned substance.


"The club has taken this step without prejudice to the player's claim of no wrongdoing."

McCarey, meanwhile, has made five appearances for Wolves in four years with the club, while having also spent time on loan with York City and Walsall.

Wolves' statement read: "Aaron McCarey has failed an out of competition Football Association (FA) drug test for a non-performance enhancing substance.

"As a result, the Wolves goalkeeper is now subject to an immediate FA suspension from all competitive forms of football.

"The immediate suspension is a standard procedure whilst the FA’s investigation is concluded.

"Aaron McCarey strenuously denies deliberately taking any banned substance.


"Neither the player nor the club will be making any further comment whilst the FA investigation is under way and not until the matter has been fully concluded."