Senegalese footballer Ibrahima Niane insists he is not a drug user, following a two-year suspension issued by the French Anti-Doping Agency (AFLD) for testing positive for MDMA — the psychoactive compound commonly found in ecstasy.
The 26-year-old striker, who was playing for Angers SCO on loan from FC Metz at the time, tested positive after a Ligue 1 fixture against Stade de Reims on 21 March 2023, which ended in a 2-2 draw.
The positive result led to a formal suspension announced on 21 May 2024, effectively halting his career for a minimum of two years.
Niane, who previously represented Senegal at the under-20 level, has spent the last two years vehemently defending his case. He maintains that the ingestion of MDMA was unintentional, and he has consistently denied any habitual use of illicit substances.
According to those close to the player, Niane is determined to clear his name and demonstrate that he is not a drug addict.
To support his defence, Niane enlisted the services of prominent French lawyer Benjamin Cabagno, as well as a toxicology expert, in an effort to establish a credible theory of accidental exposure.
His legal team argued that any potential contact with the banned substance occurred inadvertently and before the official matchday cut-off at 11:59 p.m. the night before the game.
Despite these efforts, the AFLD upheld its initial findings, citing insufficient evidence to support the theory of accidental contamination. Testimonies were submitted by Niane’s agent and a teammate who shared a hotel room with him in Reims ahead of the match.
Both witnesses described Niane’s behaviour that evening as uncharacteristically agitated, a state that they now believe was consistent with the effects of MDMA.
Nevertheless, the disciplinary panel remained unconvinced. While it did not fully dismiss the possibility of exposure occurring prior to matchday, the lack of definitive proof worked against the former FC Metz striker.
Currently unattached to any club, Niane’s career has been left in limbo. His representatives are actively seeking a new team willing to invest in a player facing a significant suspension.
In parallel, his legal team continues to pursue a second appeal in an effort to overturn or shorten the ban. According to La Provence, that process is ongoing and unlikely to reach a resolution before the end of 2025 or early 2026.
A close associate of Niane emphasised the personal toll the case has taken on the player. “He wants to prove that he is not a drug addict,” the source stated, reinforcing Niane’s commitment to restoring his professional reputation and personal honour.
The case remains a stark example of the complexities surrounding anti-doping enforcement in professional sport — particularly in situations where athletes claim unintentional ingestion. For now, Niane faces a long road back to the pitch, with both his career and reputation hanging in the balance.
