The long-time Manchester City doctor charged with an anti-doping cover-up has admitted to the offence, saying he was “ashamed” of his actions.

Dr Andrew Johnson revealed he was in danger of being struck off as a GP – as well as being banned from sport – for providing fraudulent information in respect of a medical exemption for a player to use a banned steroid.

The charge relates to Dr Johnson’s conduct last December while club doctor at Bury, who had close links with City before being thrown out of the professional game in August over their financial crisis.

Dr Johnson’s own association with the Premier League champions, which they suspended pending the outcome of his case, dates back at least eight years and has involved him working in the tunnel at the Etihad Stadium on match-days and for their academy.

It is unclear how long he also worked at Bury, who City let move into their Carrington Training Complex rent-free five years ago following the completion of their state-of-the-art City Football Academy.