BEIJING, Feb 4: A Chinese footballer who tested positive for the banned substance ephedrine has been banned by the China Football Association (CFA) for six months.

Beijing defender Zhang Shuai has already received a three-month suspension and US$6,000 fine from his club. It is the first case of doping in China's professional football league.

Zhang tested positive in a random test late last year and also returned a positive result at a second screening for confirmation.

The 22-year-old could have faced a ban of two to four years, but received a lesser punishment after the CFA confirmed he had taken the drug unwittingly, the Beijing Youth Daily reported Wednesday.

His punishment is in stark contrast to that of Manchester United and England defender Rio Ferdinand, who is currently serving an eight-month ban for simply missing a drugs test. He was also fined 50,000 pounds.

Once a prospect for China's Olympic team, Zhang has shown remorse. "I should have asked the doctor before taking the pills," he said in a statement by the CFA Wednesday.

The ban dates back to Nov 22, 2003, when Zhang was first tested, meaning he will be available for the third round of the inaugural Chinese premier league which is to start this May.

Ephedrine gained notoriety when Argentina football legend Diego Maradona tested positive for the substance at the 1994 World Cup.-AFP