Toure free to resume City career

Manchester City defender Kolo Toure is "relieved" at being handed a six–month ban after testing positive for a specified substance earlier this season.

Toure will be available for his club in September as the ban was backdated to March 2.

Toure is also to be target–tested for a period of two years from yesterday, following an Independent Regulatory Commission hearing convened at Wembley by the Football Association.

He said: "This has been a difficult period for me. I am sad to have missed the team's triumph of securing Champions League football and also the FA Cup victory at Wembley.

"But I am relieved I will be able to return to football in September and thank the FA's commission for their understanding about my case in coming to their decision."

Toure admitted the offence – his first – contrary to Regulation 3 of the FA Doping Regulations 210–11.

But the panel took into consideration the circumstances behind his use of water tablets belonging to his wife.

Headed up by Christopher Quinlan QC, the commission were satisfied Toure did not intend to enhance sporting performance or to mask the use of a performance–enhancing substance.