DARYL MURPHY admitted he made a “bad mistake” after he was secretly banned last season for taking cocaine on a night out.
The current Bolton striker was at Nottingham Forest at the time of the six-week FA ban, which has never been revealed because of the FAs policy of not naming players who have failed drug tests.
The ex-Republic of Ireland star, 36, was playing under Aitor Karanka and did not play for Forest between October 6 and December 8.
He was shunted out of the clubs first-team plans at the beginning of this campaign before joining League One Bolton, where he has scored five goals.
In a statement issued to The Athletic, a regretful Murphy said: Firstly, I would like to stress that the taking of recreational drugs is something that I dont condone whatsoever,
I served a suspension at the beginning of last season for making a bad decision while on a night out.
This was an isolated incident which happened out of competition when we had no game. I immediately regretted it.
I am not proud of what I did but its something I have put behind me as I want to concentrate on my football career.
Under the FAs targeted testing, players are subject to blood and urine testing any time and anywhere, including at home, on a no-advance-notice basis.
The FA has a policy of not naming the players caught for two reasons.
Firstly, because it is often a young player at the beginning of their career and, secondly, in case the player has issues relating to drug use.
Murphy who won 36 caps for Ireland before retiring from international football in January 2018- did not offer any mitigating circumstances and said it was a source of immediate regret.
