Brandon Miele has received a two-year ban from football after committing a doping violation while playing for St Patrick's Athletic last year. 

Sport Ireland and the Football Association of Ireland say Miele violated Article 2.3 of the Irish Anti-Doping Rules referring to "refusing or failing to submit to Sample collection after notification as authorised under these Rules or other anti-doping rules".

The ban has been backdated to 9 September for the offence relating from the Premier Division match on the 19 April against Sligo Rovers.

The 25-year-old Miele was an unused substitute in the game. 

Sport Ireland also alleged that Miele had committed an alleged anti-doping rule violation under Article 2.5 Tampering or Attempted Tampering with any part of Doping Control.

However, a panel were not satisfied Miele had not committed that offence. 

In his defence, Miele stated he had received contact from his partner that his daughter had fallen and hit her head and required him to come home, while he was attempting to provide the sample.

Confusion arose over whether his daughter was at home or in hospital. 

Stuart McKenzie-Smith was chaperoning Miele as he attempted to provide the sample for the test and acknowledged five or six attempts to provide the sample in the Doping Control Station (DCS). 

The former Newcastle United player was unable to provide a sample for two hours until he eventually submitted a sample of 18mls, but the requirement was 90mls. 

He left the DCS after this, despite being warned it could be a violation to do so. 

It was also noted in the judgement that "at least one offer was made to accompany him to hospital where the sample could be provided."

Miele said he recalled one offer, but "did not want to bring any stress back home or to the hospital".  

Read the Sport Ireland judgement here. 

Miele said in his statement: "Over a period of two hours while attempting to comply with the requirements of the testers, my partner became increasingly concerned about the health of my daughter and contacted me continuously to ask me to return to care for her.  

"While some confusion arose as to whether or not she had been brought to hospital, it became apparent to me that it would be necessary to leave the testing centre to be with my daughter, who has a history of health problems in her short life to date, including one period of intensive care detention. 

"After two hours of trying everything to provide a sample including drinking copious amounts and walking on cold floors in bare feet, I was only able to provide a partial sample. 

"I had reached such a state of agitation and confusion as a result of my daughter’s health at this point that I felt I must leave to be with her.  I was not aware at the time of the consequences of leaving at this juncture but felt my first obligation was to my family.

"I am pleased that, in spite of the decision, the tribunal fully accepted my honest attempts to cooperate and indeed found that 'all four witnesses called on behalf of Sport Ireland were of the view that Mr Miele acted in a sincere and fully cooperative manner at all times and took the decision that he had to be there for his family’ and ‘genuinely believed that Mr Miele was agitated and upset and concerned about the health of his daughter’.

"For the avoidance of any doubt, I did not at that time take, and have never taken, any banned substances.

"Although I feel that the punishment that I am facing is particularly harsh, I hope that this will serve as a lesson to all other footballers and sportspeople who are faced with giving a sample.  

"I hope they never face the choice I had but my experience is such that I would advise everyone now facing such a situation that not giving a sample should be the very last resort and every conceivable effort should be made."

Miele’s club St Pat’s said in a statement: "It is with regret that St Patrick’s Athletic have this afternoon learned of the outcome of Sport Ireland’s investigation of Brandon Miele.

"All at St Patrick’s Athletic were most optimistic when signing Brandon, a very talented footballer.

"Brandon did not train with the club since the beginning of May and tendered his resignation on 6 June, 2019 which was accepted."