Mutu tested positive for cocaine, a banned substance, in September although he later denied that was the drug involved.

He was also fined 20,000 pounds and told his suspension would be subject to completing a "programme of education and rehabilitation."

Controversially, Mutu's ban was shorter than the eight month suspension the FA gave to Manchester United and England defender Rio Ferdinand for missing a drugs test.

It was also less than the nine month ban imposed on former Chelsea keeper Mark Bosnich, although the Australian refused to accept his guilt unlike Romania captain Mutu.

Chelsea terminated Mutu's contract on the grounds of "gross misconduct," as part of their "zero-tolerance" drugs policy and Kenyon was angry that the FA, who could have banned Mutu for two years, had not been tougher.

"Chelsea are extremely disappointed with this verdict. We believe it is far too lenient and sends out the wrong message about drugs in football.

"It is also indicative of a lack of direction within the FA at this time," added Kenyon in a reference to the governing body being without a chief executive.

"As a club we can only take the action that we believe is right for Chelsea.

"However, the FA have a much wider responsibility to look after the interests of the game as a whole and, in this case, we believe it has shown itself to be weak over the issue of drugs."

But the FA's stance was backed by Professional Footballers Association (PFA)

chief executive Gordon Taylor who has been critical of Chelsea's drugs policy.

"Adrian admitted the charge from the beginning and accepted his responsibility.

"He is sorry for the problems that have been caused and he very soon wants to restore his good name in the international football world and particularly in his homeland of Romania.

"He is now looking forward to getting his career back on track into top-class football after next May.

Mutu, the 25-year-old Romania captain, saw his ban backdated to the period already served under an interim suspension order beginning on October 25. His ban will now run until May 18, 2005 with the FA requesting FIFA, world football's governing body FIFA, to make the ban global.