Is Paddy Kenny innocent???

[GAZBLADE]

With Paddy's F.A. hearing looming closer i personally don't think he's innocent.
It pain's me to say this but i can't believe he was not aware of informing either the club's physio or doctor about taking over the counter medication.
I'd be devastated for Paddy if the outcome is bad as i think he's playing the best football of his career and just seems to get better all the time.
The F.A. don't appear to be too lenient in these situations which is why i think it'll be bye-bye Paddy. One thing's for sure, despite all this he'll always remain a top Blade in my mind. :thumbup:

 

[Pollingtonblade]

2 year ban unless he can prove it should be less.

 

[Paulus]

A lot will come down to the lab reports, I understand that they are able to tell whether the sample is consistent with Paddy's explanation, if it isn't he's in big trouble and they'll quite correctly throw the book at him. Even if it is consistent though I still expect him to get a hefty ban, possibly a year, because his explanation is still a joke. How can he not be aware as a professional sportsman that over the counter medicines can have banned substances in them? how difficult would it be to ring the club doctor for advice before he took them? His explanation is at least as pathetic as Ferdinand saying he 'forgot' about the drugs test. I think it is a none starter to regard Paddy as the innocent victim here, players are guided by clubs on absolutely everything these days and they can come across as overgrown kids but it doesn't wash with me he has to take responsibility.

It's a real shame because I like Paddy but I think it will damage his reputation and unfortunately the reputation of the Blades as well.

 

[broomhillblade]

Maybe I'm too gullible on such matters but I side with Paddy on this one. I think it was Warnock who said he's not the sharpest tool in the box and we know he's done stupid things in the past. Also, what did he have to gain by deliberately taking a banned stimulant? It's not as though he's a box-to-box midfielder, or a sprinter.

 

[Paulus]

From Wikipedia - Ephedrine (EPH) is a sympathomimetic amine commonly used as a stimulant, appetite suppressant, concentration aid, decongestant, and to treat hypotension associated with anaesthesia. Ephedrine is similar in structure to the synthetic derivatives amphetamine and methamphetamine. Chemically, it is an alkaloid derived from various plants in the genus Ephedra (family Ephedraceae). It is most usually marketed in the hydrochloride and sulfate forms.

The key thing is it is a stimulant and an aid to concentration - no question it could influence his performance in goal.

 

[sitwell]

One story is that the club doctor told him he was OK to use sudafed liquid ,but the chemist didn't have any and he took Sudafed tablets instead ,which do contain the banned substance. I don't know if its true or not but if so he is naive at worst.
What pisses me off is our own fans can't wait to hang him out to dry when they have no idea of the circumstances but can't wait to harp on about the reputation of the club and all that bollocks. Same people will have been there after the WBA game and linesman at Portsmouth etc etc. Why not grow a backbone and support the club there are already enough outsiders who can't wait to shoot us down ,to do it from within is crap.

 

[sitwell]

From Wikipedia - Ephedrine (EPH) is a sympathomimetic amine commonly used as a stimulant, appetite suppressant, concentration aid, decongestant, and to treat hypotension associated with anaesthesia. Ephedrine is similar in structure to the synthetic derivatives amphetamine and methamphetamine. Chemically, it is an alkaloid derived from various plants in the genus Ephedra (family Ephedraceae). It is most usually marketed in the hydrochloride and sulfate forms.

The key thing is it is a stimulant and an aid to concentration - no question it could influence his performance in goal.

Exactly what i mean ,the key thing in your eyes is stimulant or aid to concentration,ever thought that the key thing for Paddy may be decongestant ? Considering his long career and the big games he's played in do you honestly think he would be taking drugs for concentration in a play off semi final ?

 

[La_Blade]

I've posted on other threads about this, I do think that at worst Paddy was a bit naive. I work with a couple of people who know him and his family, and they've told me that Warnocks opinion about him not being the sharpest tool in the box is spot on. Kenny is and always will be a Blades legend to me. However in this case I think he's in big trouble.

 

[Paulus]

One story is that the club doctor told him he was OK to use sudafed liquid ,but the chemist didn't have any and he took Sudafed tablets instead ,which do contain the banned substance. I don't know if its true or not but if so he is naive at worst.
What pisses me off is our own fans can't wait to hang him out to dry when they have no idea of the circumstances but can't wait to harp on about the reputation of the club and all that bollocks. Same people will have been there after the WBA game and linesman at Portsmouth etc etc. Why not grow a backbone and support the club there are already enough outsiders who can't wait to shoot us down ,to do it from within is crap.

I don't need lessons from you on how to support the Blades and my backbone is completely intact thankyou but there is a difference between supporting the team and the players and suspending all your normal thoughts and judgements just because Paddy's a good lad and a Blade. It's on the banned list for a reason if what you say about the possible reason is true then yes that would lessen the offence in my eyes but it is not something that sounds particularly plausible straight off.

 

[sitwell]

But a highly experienced player with hundreds of games under his belt taking a concentration aid and stimulant before a play off semi final does sound particularly plausible to you ? What happened to innocent until proven guilty. We have enough enemies without snipers from within.

 

[Fiery Blade]

After watching the re-run of the Preston game set me thinking that perhaps Paddy had shared his cough mixture with the rest of the lads - never seen such movement and pace from the team!!!

 

[Paulus]

Absolutely nothing wrong with innocent until proved guilty I'm not on the panel making a judgement I'm just giving an opinion on a forum but the problem here is that the point of having a banned substances list is just that, they are banned - no shades of grey, black and white - you can't have a drugs policy without this. Paddy is already in contravention of the code the only question is what can he say in mitigation. From what I've read I don't think it stacks up too well. I also don't think much of the part of the Warnock argument that says - well Paddy's a good lad but he's a bit thick so it's not surprising he got it wrong - so it's OK for thickies to have different rules? Warnock should stick to the character reference and leave the amateur psychology out of it.

 

[beightonblade]

Poor owd Paddy ............ he seems to have been hung before tried !

 

[shorehamview]

Is Paddy guilty of deliberately taking a substance he knew contained performance enhancing drugs with the sole aim being to help him play better? No, I don't think he took anything with the purpose being enhancing his performance.

Is he guilty of being a bit of a thicko who never bothered actually checking that the medication he took was okay? Completely.

His only possible mitigating factor is being a few sandwiches short of a picnic, and that might not swing it. Either way, he's guilty, and as previous posters have said, the thicko defence isn't enough.

 

[Tony Currie]

Good post Sitwell - what happened to innocent until proven guilty? if the circumstances are as you described you can hardly blame Paddy. I am just glad we didn't win the play off the repercussions could have been immense.

 

[MAQ]

I dont believe that there is any disputing his guilt, he took the "Medication" and has admitted to it. The question that needs to be answered is what quantity he took, which will be revealed following the reports.

This will all lead to the final judgement which i hink will lead to a 6 to 12 month ban

 

[Fiery Blade]

There has been so many rumours flying about we will have to wait for the hearing to get the truth.
He will be banned thats certain - How Long - We'll see - Will there be an appeal and why do these things take so long to be resolved?

 

[chiefblade]

read in the papers the other day about a player using cocaine [ can't remember his name ] and really he basically got away with it

 

[theblade1957]

THE NORMAL LEVELS ARE 2.2 AND IVE BEEN TOLD HE HAD 3.6 IN HIS BLOODSTREAM HE WOULD HAVE TO HAVE SWALLOWED ABOUT 10 BOTTLES TO GET THAT LEVEL,not likley is it, hes guilty as they come, hope they throw the book at the drugs cheat

 

[lenners]

But a highly experienced player with hundreds of games under his belt taking a concentration aid and stimulant before a play off semi final does sound particularly plausible to you ? What happened to innocent until proven guilty. We have enough enemies without snipers from within.

I don't think he can be proven innocent because he's already failed the test, it's just about mitigation now.
Maybe he really is as thick as suggested and didn't think or didn't know what he was doing.
If that's the case, you would have to question what kind of medical regime we're running at the Lane.
On the other hand, how many who have attempted to gain an unfair advantage admit it? Virtually none, there's always an excuse.
Either way, he's caused major selection and financial problems for our club and it's hard to feel sympathetic.

 

[DazBlade88]

I think the fact that he's not been given a squad number, and isn't in the team photo is a sign that the club expect Kenny to be banned for a fair length of time.

The thing I've thought is, if he's taking the medicine to make himself fit for the match then he's using it to an advantage.

 

[Linz]

What Paddy did or didn't do is all speculation.

My issue is with the wording of the law in the first place.

The taking of a banned substance is described as strict liability. That means, regardless of intentions, the very fact you have taken it means you are guilty. The punishments are then described. First offence, two years. Second offence, banned for life.

But then, the laws go on to make allowances for a number of mitigating factors to reduce the punishment.

What?

 

[cooperblade]

THE NORMAL LEVELS ARE 2.2 AND IVE BEEN TOLD HE HAD 3.6 IN HIS BLOODSTREAM HE WOULD HAVE TO HAVE SWALLOWED ABOUT 10 BOTTLES TO GET THAT LEVEL,not likley is it, hes guilty as they come, hope they throw the book at the drugs cheat

I take it you know about these results but the club don't? I'd be surprised if they knew he was way over the limit but allowed a statement to go out saying he'd taken a few tablets.

I haven't seen any reference to test results other than in posts by you. Where is your info from?

 

[theblade1957]

from within the club my friend,and normally hes spot on with what he leaks out, cant say anything other than what im told the level to stay under is 2.2 and that can be seen on the net if you care to look, now hes got to be over that for it to be a positive result which in turn makes him guilty regardless of him saying i didnt know it was in that medication,it was his duty to find out in mthe first place, what i cant understand some people back a drug cheat, a cheat is a cheat, and should be thrown out of all sport.To answer your statement that the club dont know is bull, all positive test result are lodge first with the club involved, so them not knowing is not true.They know what he took and what level over the level thats allowed,this is why the club are not fighting in his corner, how can they without condoning his actions

 

[Toronto Blade]

I don't believe it is on the banned list ,its prohibited though .
You are allowed some of the substance in your system,but if you have over the allowed amount you are in trouble.

 

[Linz]

I don't believe it is on the banned list ,its prohibited though .
You are allowed some of the substance in your system,but if you have over the allowed amount you are in trouble.

No, that's with pseudo-ephedrine... the substance they initially said that he'd taken. You're allowed a certain amount.

It then came out that he'd failed for ephedrine, which is banned in all quantities.