National soccer bosses remain tight-lipped over the first positive drugs test from their sport.
The New Zealand Sports Agency's annual report for the June year revealed that a soccer player had returned a positive to the banned stimulant ephedrine.
New Zealand Soccer chief executive Bill MacGowan has refused to reveal the player'sname or club.
While preferring not to comment, he said the association had acted quickly in imposing an eight-month suspension on the player.
MacGowan said the player was one of 50 national club championship players or national team members tested either in or out of competition.
"Obviously we don't want drugs in our sport," he said.
"But we acted quickly and imposed what we considered the appropriate ban. The matter was handled as required by our regulations.
"Every national club championship player and New Zealand representative signed a form which provided for testing.
"We will continue the testing programme, hopefully without any further positives."
The positive test was one of 10 infractions from 1180 tests undertaken by the agency during the year.
Two, from bodybuilding, were for failing to provide a sample, while another was the on-going nandrolone saga involving swimmer Trent Bray. A rugby league player also returned a positive to ephedrine.
