Sheffield United have suspended Ireland international goalkeeper Paddy Kenny after he failed a drugs test, the Championship club said yesterday.

"We can confirm Paddy Kenny has been suspended by the club. This is an ongoing, confidential matter and as such we are unable to comment further," United said on their website (www.sufc.co.uk).

British media reported that Kenny had tested positive for a banned substance, ephedrine, before the semi-final play-off with Preston North End at the end of last season.

Kenny, the club's no.1 choice, has made over 250 appearances for the Blades who sport the visitmalta.com sponsorship on their shirt.

They start a brief training camp in Malta today that culminates with a friendly match against Floriana on Friday at the Hibs Ground.

BBC Radio Sheffield said ephedrine is believed to be present in a cough mixture that Kenny, 31, bought over the counter to relieve cold symptoms.

The English FA and UK Sport, the official body that governs drugs testing of athletes in the UK, did not comment over the matter.

However, the FA will be conducting its own disciplinary inquiry as always happens in such cases.

Ephedrine is on the list of the World Anti-Doping Agency's specified substances but is contained in some cold cures, and a positive test does not carry the usual automatic two-year suspension.

Now, with Kenny facing a possible ban, Sheffield United manager Kevin Blackwell is expected to rush to the transfer market in search of a replacement.

The Blades, who missed promotion by a whisker last season, will want to add more options to their goalkeeping department that already includes Malta international Justin Haber and veteran no.2 Ian Bennett who has just signed a new one-year deal at the Championship club.

Bennett, 37, will be added to Sheffield United's coaching staff for next season as well as continuing with his playing duties.

Kenny has won seven caps for Ireland but has not played since the 5-2 defeat in Cyprus in October 2006.

He was expected to get a recall by current Ireland coach Giovanni Trapattoni but the Italian instead opted for Preston NE's Wayne Henderson and Colin Doyle, of Birmingham City.

Since 2007, four rugby players in England have all been served with two-year bans after testing positive for ephedrine.