Charges dropped against England goalkeeper Keating

Khiara Keating, the 20-year-old goalkeeper for Manchester City, has had charges against her dropped nearly a year after she pleaded not guilty to possessing canisters of nitrous oxide. The legal troubles began on June 18 of the previous year when Greater Manchester Police charged her with possession of a Class C drug. Alongside her mother, Nicola Keating, who also faced similar charges, they appeared in court in July and were granted unconditional bail. The case has now been discontinued, as confirmed by Greater Manchester Police, allowing Keating to focus on her football career without the burden of legal issues hanging over her.

In a statement to BBC Sport, Keating expressed her relief at the dropped charges, reiterating her belief in her innocence and describing the past year as a challenging period in her life. She is now eager to shift her focus to the upcoming Euro 2025, where she is part of the 23-player squad representing England. Despite not having made her senior team debut yet, Keating has already made a name for herself by winning the Women's Super League Golden Glove award last year, becoming the youngest player to achieve this accolade after maintaining nine clean sheets in 22 league appearances. Nitrous oxide, which was classified as a Class C drug in November 2023, is still permitted for legitimate uses, but possession for psychoactive effects has become an offense. Keating's situation underscores the complexities surrounding drug classifications and personal accountability in sports, highlighting her determination to move forward in her career amidst these challenges.