It has emerged that a Belfast boxer Brian Magee is serving a six-month drugs ban.

Magee, who recently challenged for a world title, tested positive following his WBA Super Middleweight championship loss to Mikkel Kessler in December.

The UK Anti-Doping Agency, which today revealed the suspension, accepted that Magee consumed the banned substance via a contaminated cold remedy, and was not seeking to illegally enhance his performance.

Magee may take legal action against the supplier of the over-the-counter supplement.

The former WBA Super Middleweight champion tested positive for Oxilofrine - the same substance that was also found in Jamaican 100 metre sprinter Asafa Powell's samples last week.

His ban is set to expire next week as it was imposed retrospectively.

(l to r) Mikkel Kessler and Brian Magee ©INPHO/Presseye/Lars Moeller