Xavier handed 18-month suspension

[Mac 10 †]

Xavier handed 18-month suspension 
 
Middlesbrough's Abel Xavier has been given an 18-month suspension after he tested positive for a banned substance.

The 32-year-old, who was tested after Boro's Uefa Cup game in Xanthi on 29 September, was given the suspension at a personal Uefa hearing in Nyon.

Xavier tested positive for the banned anabolic steroid dianabol, but has strenuously denied any wrongdoing.

He can appeal against the decision within three days of being given a written reason for the suspension.

He is the first Premiership player to be found to have taken performance-enhancing - as opposed to recreational - drugs.

Edgar Davids, now with Tottenham, was found guilty of taking nandrolone while with Juventus, while Jaap Stam was found to have taken it while at Lazio, after leaving Manchester United.

Uefa said in a statement: "The player was found guilty of being in breach of the Uefa anti-doping regulations. As a result, the Uefa control and disciplinary body decided to impose an 18-month ban on Abel Xavier."

Middlesbrough manager Steve McClaren said: "We are going to take a couple of days to digest everything before we put out a full statement and decide what to do.

"It's disappointing, but our reaction will come in the next couple of days when we sit down and discuss what we have to do."

Spokesman Dave Allan added: "We are aware of the decision and the clear implications it has for Abel and for his contract with Middlesbrough Football Club.

"However, we have an important Uefa Cup game against AZ Alkmaar on Thursday night and we will not be making any further comment until Friday."

Middlesbrough signed the Portuguese international on a free transfer in August following his release by Italian side Roma.

He has been capped 20 times by Portugal and has played for both Liverpool and Everton as well as Benfica, Galatasaray and PSV Eindhoven.

Xavier is thought to have claimed he took the drug unknowingly after buying a diet supplement from the USA that had been contaminated.

He said in October he was "convinced that there is a reasonable and entirely harmless explanation for such a positive finding, should it be confirmed by the analysis of the 'B' sample."

But the 'B' sample also tested positive, to leave Xavier facing a suspension which threatens his future.

It is the second time Xavier has served a lengthy ban imposed by Uefa.

The defender was suspended for nine months after Euro 2000 following a controversial end to Portugal's semi-final against France.

Portugal lost to a late "golden goal" penalty after Xavier was judged to have handled near the goal-line.

Xavier, incensed by the decision, grabbed the arm of the assistant referee. His ban was later reduced by three months on appeal.

[acbaylove]

I don't even need to read it all. He already proved with Bari and AS Roma that he's one of the worse defender ever.