Ivan Toney admitted he is "naturally disappointed" after being handed an eight-month ban by the Football Association (FA) on Wednesday.
The England international, 27, was found guilty of betting offences dating back to 2017 by the FA. He was charged with 232 breaches of the FA's rules in November and a further 30 in December, although the latter breaches were withdrawn.
Toney has promised to "focus on returning to play the game I love next season". The news will come as a huge blow to Brentford, as the prolific striker has scored 21 goals in all competitions this season. The Bees are ninth in the Premier League table.
Toney reacted to Wednesday's news via an Instagram story. He wrote: "Today I have received notification of my 8-month ban from football following a hearing before an FA Regulatory Commission that took place yesterday. I am naturally disappointed that I will be unable to play for the next 8 months.
"The written reasons for the Commission's decision have not yet been published, so I make no further comment at this point other than to thank my family and friends, Brentford FC and our fans for their continued support, through what has been a very difficult time. I now focus on returning to play the game I love next season."
Toney was alleged to have first breached the FA's rules in 2017, when he was on loan at Scunthorpe from Newcastle. He has since enjoyed a rapid rise to the top of the English game, scoring 68 goals in 124 club appearances since joining Brentford in August 2020.
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The FA have released a statement on the ban. It reads: "Ivan Toney has been suspended from all football and football-related activity with immediate effect for eight months, fined £50,000 and warned as to his future conduct for breaches of The FA’s Betting Rules.
"The Brentford FC forward was charged with 262 breaches of FA Rule E8 in total between 25 February 2017 and 23 January 2021. The FA subsequently withdrew 30 of these breaches and he admitted to the remaining 232.
"His sanctions were subsequently imposed by an independent Regulatory Commission following a personal hearing. He is permitted to return to training only with his club for the final four months of his suspension starting from 17 September 2023.
"The independent Regulatory Commission’s written reasons for these sanctions will be published in due course, and The FA will wait to review them before commenting further."
Brentford added: "Brentford FC notes the decision of an independent Regulatory Commission to issue an eight-month ban from all football and football-related activity to Ivan Toney with immediate effect.
"Ivan was charged with breaches of FA rule E8 and had a personal hearing earlier this week. Brentford FC is currently awaiting the publication of the written reasons of the independent Regulatory Commission. We will review them before considering our next steps."
