Kolo Toure facing a two-year ban after failing a drugs test

Manchester City’s Ivorian defender Kolo Touré failed a drugs test after taking a diet pill belonging to his wife, according to the Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger.

Wenger has spoken with the former Arsenal captain since news broke of his positive test for a specified substance.

“He wants to control his weight because that’s where he has some problems and he took the product of his wife,” the Frenchman said, before quipping: “Never trust your wife! That is how he was caught.”

Touré could face a lengthy ban and is currently suspended from playing for City, who he joined in 2009 after spending seven seasons at Arsenal. Wenger spoke of his character in glowing terms and insisted the 29-year-old’s error was failing to check the legality of the product he took.

“I think it is a mistake. He was not cautious enough. I don’t think there’s a desire there to do something wrong and hide it,” Wenger said. “It’s a complete surprise because I had Kolo Touré here for years, I brought him here.

“He is a boy who has a clean life. He’s very honest living, always at home, a family man and I don’t suspect him at all to have taken drugs to enhance his performances. I just think it is a mistake by forgetting to ask, ‘Can I take that?’”

City have so far refused to release any further details themselves.