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Drug-tainted Mutu banned for Champions League tie

February 11, 2010 09:32 IST

European soccer's governing body UEFA confirmed on Wednesday that Fiorentina's Adrian Mutu is ineligible for next week's Champions League match against Bayern Munich after he was banned by Italian authorities for failing a doping test.

"This follows the decision rendered by the chairman of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee on February 3 to extend the ban on the player to have a worldwide effect for the duration of the provisional suspension imposed by the association," said UEFA in a statement.

The Italian Olympic Committee (CONI), which acts as the country's anti-doping agency, provisionally suspended Mutu last month, saying he had tested positive for the appetite suppressant sibutramine following the Serie A match against Bari on January 10.

The Romanian was sacked by English Premier League club Chelsea in 2004 after using cocaine.

Last year, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) rejected his appeal against a ruling that he must pay Chelsea 17.17 million euros ($23.58 million) in damages.

Mutu appealed again to a Swiss federal court and the situation is now on hold.

Fiorentina visit the Bundesliga side on February 17 for their first knockout round, first leg tie.

Source: REUTERS
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