Features

Mutu back in the spotlight

Author: Rose Young
Date: 08/02/2010
Football betting

Former Chelsea forward Adrian Mutu's career has been shrouded in controversy yet again.

The current Fiorentina hitman failed another drugs test in January and it remains to be seen whether he has a future in the game.

In 2004 he received a seven-month worldwide ban after testing positive for cocaine and he was ultimately sacked by the Stamford Bridge giants.

After serving his ban, he signed for Juventus in January 2005 and it was following that move Chelsea - who are sportsbook favourites to win the Premier League this season - sued him for breach of contract.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport's decided in favour with the Premier League side and Mutu is fighting a charge that would see him repay £14.75million to the Blues.

As Mutu's troubles rumble on, he isn't the first modern day footballer to fall foul of anti-doping procedures.

We will take a look at other high-profile stars who have had their own fall from grace.

Middlesbrough defender Abel Xavier was called into the testing room after Boro's UEFA Cup tie against Skoda Xanthi in 2005 and the substance methandrostenolone, also known as dianabol, was found in his system.

He was subsequently suspended for 18 months but after UEFA turned down his original appeal, the ban was shortened to 12 months in June 2006.

Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand didn't fail a drugs test but he simply failed to turn up for his, leading him to an eight-month ban in December 2003.

Ferdinand preoccupied himself with a shopping trip which ultimately cost him a place in England's Euro 2004 squad.

How will Rio Ferdinand and England fare at the 2010 World Cup? - Latest Football Betting

Sheffield United goalkeeper Paddy Kenny was found guilty of taking the banned substance ephedrine after the Blades' game with Preston in May last year.

He later admitted the charge but claimed the drug was in a cough medicine he had been using.

Although the commission believed he was not a drugs cheat, he was still banned for nine-months.

Christopher Quinlan, of the Regulatory Commission, said: "The player satisfied us the substance was not taken with the intention of enhancing sporting performance, but his conduct displayed significant fault."

Chelsea goalkeeper Mark Bosnich failed to fill the vacated gloves of Manchester United legend Peter Schmeichel and when Sir Alex Ferguson signed Fabien Barthez in 2000, the Australian stopper moved to Chelsea.

After a disastrous first season in the capital, his career took a turn for the worse.

He was found guilty of taking cocaine and banned for a mammoth nine-months and sacked by manager Claudio Ranieri.

He later said: "I had a big argument with my then girlfriend (supermodel) Sophie Anderton and decided to go to a nightclub.

"I got talking to a girl who later admitted that she had slipped the drug into her drink. I must have had a sip of her glass. I'm deadly serious about this."

Lazio defender Jaap Stam was handed a five-month ban after testing positive for the banned steroid nandrolone after their Serie A game against Atalanta in October 2001.

He had his ban cut on appeal by a month and team-mate Fernando Couto was also banned for a similar offence.

At that time, Italian football was rife with players being found guilty of drug taking.

Edgar Davids was another high-profile star banned for four-months during his time at Juventus, while current Barcelona chief and former Brescia player Josep Guardiola tested positive twice - in October and November of that year - to land a ban himself.

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