Touré in limbo as club leave FA to rule on case

Kolo Toure did not travel to Ukraine with Manchester City yesterday, though the period of suspension before the Football Association rules on his drugs test case may well form a retrospective part of any ban.

City are unwilling to be seen to interfere in the FA process by discussing whether the defender will seek a B test, following the discovery of a "specified substance" in Touré's random test on 12 February. Touré's decision about whether to seek a B sample is an issue between himself and the FA, which was also unable to discuss the case. Touré is entitled to legal and Professional Footballers Association representation in any appearance before the FA.

The 29-year-old, who continued to train at Carrington yesterday, will know that it may take eight weeks for the FA to consider and rule on his case. But since he has been suspended by the FA as well as his club, this current period is likely to be taken into account should any ban eventuate.

When Roman Bednar was given a three-month ban for cocaine use while at West Bromwich Albion, the case was reduced to two months because of the initial suspension.