THE UK Anti-Doping agency (UKAD) insist athletes are ‘solely responsible’ for having banned substances in their system after former Partick Thistle defender Jordan McMillan was suspended from all sport for two years for failing a drugs test.

The 26-year-old tested positive for benzoylecgonine, a metabolite of cocaine, after Thistle's Premiership match against Celtic on 3 December last year.

McMillan, who started his career with Rangers and joined Thistle from Dunfermline Athletic two-and-a-half years ago, was suspended by the club while it conducted an internal investigation in January before his contract was terminated in February.

The right-back has claimed his drink was spiked by Sean Malloy, a friend of his cousin Edward Maher, but the Tribunal, chaired by lawyer Rod McKenzie, did not find Mr Malloy’s evidence to be ‘reliable and credible’ after he claimed he inadvertently gave McMillan a drink with cocaine mixed into it.

UKAD chief executive Nicole Sapstead said: “UKAD’s role is to protect the integrity and spirit of sport, and athletes, at all levels, need to understand the importance of Strict Liability – they are solely responsible for any banned substance that is found in their system, regardless of how it got there or whether there was an intention to cheat or not.

“The principle of Strict Liability can be challenging for athletes. They have to ensure that they understand the anti-doping rules and that their family, friends, coaches and athlete support personnel understand them too. They need to be aware of the risks their career faces if they test positive, and ensure they manage that risk at all times."

McMillan did not play in the Premiership match at Parkhead, which Alan Archibald’s side lost 1-0, but was on the bench after spending the previous couple of weeks out of action through illness and a knee injury.

He would make just one further appearance for Thistle – in the 4-0 win away to Inverness Caledonian Thistle on December 13 – before he was suspended on January 7 on full pay.

McMillan claimed the cocaine got into his system on November 30 when Mr Malloy had mixed three quarters of a gram of the drug into his drink and has stressed that he had no knowledge that the glass he was using contained cocaine.

The Tribunal also heard of anonymous information received by Crimestoppers which stated: “Jordan McMillan, who plays football for Partick Thistle and lives in the Balornock area of Glasgow, is taking cocaine on a regular basis, mostly socially at weekends. McMillan was born in 1988. It is believed he is being supplied by local dealers in the pubs he frequents” and that “Jordan McMillan, who lives in Auchainairn Road, Glasgow is using cocaine whilst playing football. He plays for Partick Thistle in Glasgow in the Scottish Premiership. He has recently used cocaine and brags that he passes his drugs tests”.

But, in his evidence, McMillan ‘considered that it was likely that this information had been provided as part of a malicious attempt to damage his character.’

Speaking yesterday morning, McMillan claimed he left the initial hearing and said: ‘"I walked out because I was so p****d off. I could tell it wasn't going the way I wanted. It wasn't being presented the right way."

McMillan, who was part of the Thistle side that won the First Division title two years ago, has now been banned from all competitive action until December 17 next year.

A Thistle spokesperson said: “We are obviously aware of the UKAD ruling which was made public this morning regarding our former player, Jordan McMillan. As a club we believe that we handled the situation in a fair and thoroughly professional manner and stand by the action taken at the time.”