Uefa hand Xavier 18-month ban
Middlesbrough defender Abel Xavier has been handed an 18-month ban by Uefa.
Middlesbrough defender Abel Xavier has been handed an 18-month ban by Uefa for failing a drugs test.Xavier was suspended from all football last month by Fifa after testing positive following a routine drugs test.
The former Liverpool and Everton man was tested after Middlesbrough's Uefa Cup clash with Xanthi in Greece on September 29 and traces of a banned substance were found in his sample.
The Portuguese star's 'A' sample had tested positive in the first check and his 'B' sample also confirmed those results.
Xavier had vowed to clear his name, but after a hearing with Uefa, Europe's football governing body have landed the Portuguese star with year-and-a-half ban.
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.
This decision may be appealed against within three days of receipt of the written reasoning."
