EXCLUSIVE: Mariners midfielder Troy Hearfield has been sacked by the club after failing a drugs test that revealed traces of a recreational drug.

The Daily Telegraph has learnt that the former Olyroo fronted a tribunal a fortnight ago and is waiting to hear what his penalty will be after putting forward mitigating circumstances.

Hearfield's solicitor, Stuart Gray, declined to comment until the tribunal's decision is handed down.

But Hearfield, 25, could face a ban from all sports of between 12 months and five years after traces of the drug were found following a routine test, making him only the second footballer to fail a test since the A-League was established in 2005.

Having initially denied taking the drug, Hearfield later admitted to it and had his A-League contract terminated two months ago. He is no longer listed as a squad player on the club's website.

The test was conducted after the Mariners' round 2 match against the Melbourne Heart.

Under the code of conduct established by anti-doping authority ASADA, Hearfield was provisionally suspended as soon as his first sample was found to be positive.

It's believed that Hearfield has struggled with personal issues in recent months that were put forward in mitigation at the tribunal two weeks ago.

The Tamworth-born player began his career at the Newcastle Jets in 2006, making 19 appearances before switching to the Wellington Phoenix where he notched up 66 games over three seasons.

Mariners coach Graham Arnold, who had selected Hearfield in various Olyroos squads in qualifying for the Beijing Olympics, signed him for the Mariners in 2011. Hearfield has since made 30 appearances for the Central Coast, largely off the bench.

Hearfield's case comes at a sensitive time after ASADA launched its report and subsequent investigations into drugs in sport, with football having so far not been involved.

At the time of the launch of the report, FFA CEO David Gallop said there was no mention of the code within it, and Hearfield's case is being seen as an isolated incident.

Stan Lazaridis was the only other A-League player to have tested positive after he was punished for taking a prescription alopecia medication.

His case sparked a furore with the tribunal frustrated that its hands were tied in having to pass down a 12-month sentence they made clear they felt was unjustified.

The drug in question was later withdrawn from the banned list.

Former Wallaby Wendell Sailor tested positive for cocaine in South Africa in 2006 while playing for the Waratahs, and received a two-year ban from all sports after admitting to taking it in the build-up to a game.

After the expiry of his ban Wendell returned to the NRL with the Dragons, and now is involved in anti-drugs education for young people.

Last night an FFA spokesman said their policy "is not to make comments about individual anti-doping matters unless and until any such matters are completed".