FORMER Evesham United goalkeeper Billy Turley is facing a life ban from football after being suspended by Rushden and Diamonds over a failed drugs test.

Two weeks after banning Turley "until further notice pending a disciplinary investigation" officials at the League Two club admitted that media speculation over a drugs test was correct.

The Nene Park outfit revealed last weekend that the disciplinary procedure concerned a positive result for a prohibited substance following a drugs test.

Turley, now 31, was named by a national newspaper in October 2003 as the "mystery man" who escaped with a warning from the FA after becoming the first professional player in England to test positive for a banned anabolic steroid.

The goalkeeper arrived at Common Road in 1993 from Stratford Town before moving to Northampton Town for a four-figure fee. Diamonds then paid the Cobblers £100,000 for the talented stopper who helped Rushden gain promotion to the then second division.