FORMER Pars defender Jordan McMillan is free to return to football after his near two-year drugs ban expired today.

The 28-year-old full back, who had been training at East End Park in recent weeks, can now seek a route back into the game having been banned from all competitive sport for two years in December 2014.

Then a Partick Thistle player, McMillan tested positive for benzoylecgonine - a metabolite of cocaine - following a match with Celtic.

After failing the drug test the defender, who claimed that his drink was spiked, was swiftly suspended by the Jags before subsequently being sacked in February 2015 following an internal investigation.

In September last year, UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) confirmed that the player was to be suspended for a two-year period from December 18 2014 to December 17 2016, but the ban was reduced by a month in August following an appeal to the National Anti-Doping Panel.

McMillan signed for Dunfermline in January 2012 during their doomed battle against relegation from the SPL and was appointed captain by then manager Jim Jefferies for the 2012/2013 campaign.

However, in March 2013, he was made redundant along with 10 team-mates as a financial crisis plunged the Pars into administration.

Following his release, he signed for Thistle and helped them clinch the First Division title that season.

Last month, Pars boss Allan Johnston confirmed McMillan was training with his squad, stating: "We’ve got a big squad, he’s in training just now and that’s as far as it goes."

During his time with Dunfermline, McMillan made 43 appearances, scoring twice.