Sport and recreational drugs
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Your support makes all the difference.Chris Armstrong (footballer)
Tested positive for cannabis while playing for Crystal Palace on 23 January 1995. Underwent counselling and missed four matches, including two cup semi-finals, before moving to Tottenham for pounds 4.5m the following summer.
Paul Merson (footballer)
Admitted to using cocaine in a newspaper interview on 25 November 1994. Escaped FA punishment after agreeing to rehabilitation programme and returned to the Arsenal team in February 1995. Helped launch the FA's anti-drug campaign.
Diego Maradona (footballer)
Banned for 15 months after testing positive for five different forms of the banned stimulant ephedrine following Argentina's World Cup match against Nigeria in 1994. Recently booked into a Swiss clinic in an attempt to cure his cocaine problem.
Claudio Cannigia (footballer): Handed 15-month ban after testing positive for cocaine on 6 April 1993 following a Serie A game for AS Roma. Later resumed international career for Argentina, scoring twice at the 1994 World Cup.
Lee Bowyer (footballer): Tested positive for marijuana as an 18-year- old trainee with Charlton in March 1995. Disciplined by the club and dropped from England's under-18 squad. Completed a pounds 2.6m transfer to Leeds this summer.
Roger Stanislaus (footballer): Tested positive for cocaine after playing for Leyton Orient at Barnet on 25 November 1995. Sacked by Leyton Orient before being suspended by the FA for a year on 2 February 1996.
Craig Whitington (footballer): Huddersfield reserve who failed his second drugs test inside 10 months in January 1996. Banned by the FA on 10 April until 1 November 1996.
Ian Botham (cricketer)
Suspended for two months from all first-class cricket from 29 May to 31 July 1987 for "bringing the game into disrepute by admitting to using cannabis, denying in the past that he had used cannabis and making public pronouncements without the clearance of his country"
Jennifer Capriati (tennis player)
Arrested and charged with possession of cannabis at a Miami motel in May 1994, shortly after announcing that she would take a break from tennis. Attended a drug rehabilitation centre in Florida and returned to the professional game 14 months later.
Michael Irvin (American footballer)
The outstanding wide receiver of the Dallas Cowboys was convicted of cocaine possession by a Dallas court in June. A few weeks later he was banned for first five games of the coming season by the NFL.
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