Ben Arthurs, the 28‑year‑old Bangor striker, completed a 3 months anti‑doping ban after a banned substance was found in a sample collected after a March match against Glentoran. The County Down club suspended him in April while an investigation unfolded.

UKAD reported an adverse analytical finding of benzoylecgonine, a metabolite of cocaine. Under UKAD rules, athletes may receive a reduced suspension if they can prove out‑of‑competition use unrelated to performance. Arthurs admitted recreational ingestion in a social setting, and an independent expert concluded the use likely occurred before the game.

Arthurs' provisional suspension began on 7 April. Having returned to pre‑season training, he is now eligible to face Cliftonville on 15 August, the opening day of the 2026‑27 Irish Premiership. It will be his ninth season at Bangor, where he ranks as the club’s second‑top goalscorer.

Doping control was introduced in the Irish Premiership and Women’s Premiership in 2024, jointly funded by the Irish Football Association (IFA) and Northern Ireland Football League (NIFL). The BBC NI sought comments from the IFA and NIFL.