Mutu faces calls for year ban

Italian Olympic Committee wants one-year suspension

By Simone Bargellini   Last updated: 31st March 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Mutu faces calls for year ban

Mutu: Disappointed

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Italy's anti-doping prosecutor is demanding that Adrian Mutu receives a one-year suspension for twice failing drugs tests.

The Fiorentina forward tested positive for anti-obesity drug sibutramine after matches against Bari on 10th January and Lazio 10 days later.

The prosecutor has presented his case to the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) asking for the player to be sidelined for 12 months.

A statement from CONI read: "The anti-doping prosecutors' office has presented to CONI's anti-doping tribunal the case of Adrian Mutu, requesting a one-year ban be applied, according to article 10.4 of WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) code."

The Romanian, who was sacked by Chelsea in 2004 after testing positive for cocaine, has been suspended from all competition as he awaits the outcome of the case.

Not happy

And Mutu has reacted with disappointment to the calls for him to be banned for 12 months.

"I spoke to Adrian and he is not remotely happy, because nobody could've imagined staying off the field for a year for a pill like that," said lawyer Paolo Rodella.

"We need to see the paperwork, but it looks as if they did not declare this a repeat offence, as otherwise there would've been different parameters.

"I imagine that the situation was treated very seriously as negligence and above all because Adrian has already been through a doping situation before."

Mutu has admitted taking the substance but hopes to avoid a lengthy suspension.

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