Ex-Sunderland teen Lewis Gibbons banned from football for two years

Former Sunderland teenager Lewis Gibbons has been banned from football for two years after failing a drugs test.

The 18-year-old, who was released by the Black Cats' youth academy earlier in the season, was tested positive for two substances last September.

"Lewis not only let our club down, he let himself and his teammates down massively," BBC Sport quotes Sunderland academy manager Ged McNamee as saying. "We took the strongest possible action in terminating his contract as every player knows the severe consequences."

Cocaine and Cannibis are thought to have been found in his system.