Mutu banned after failing drug test
January 29, 2010
Italy’s National Anti-doping Tribunal (TNA) on Friday provisionally suspended Fiorentina’s Romanian striker Adrian Mutu after he tested positive for the banned substance sibutramine.
The tribunal announced in a press release that it had “suspended the player according to the demand made by the office of the anti-doping prosecutor on January 28″.
Mutu, 31, tested positive for sibutramine after scoring in his side’s 2-1 home win over Bari in the league on January 10. He risks a suspension of between one and four years.
In a statement, the Tuscan club said their medical staff had had nothing to do with the administration of a banned substance and expressed their belief in “the good faith” of the player.
The club added that they wanted to see “the affair cleared up as quickly as possible”.
Sibutramine is a medicine principally used in the treatment of obesity.
According to the ANSA news agency, who spoke to a pharmacologist, the substance would enable an athlete to increase his level of aggression.
Media reports in Romania on Friday, meanwhile, speculated that Mutu could have accidentally been given the drug by his mother.
Interviewed by the TV channel Telesport, Mutu’s mother, Rodica Mutu, admitted to having taken slimming tablets and said she had “definitely left some of them in Italy” while visiting her son.
“Maybe he took them out of curiosity as I had boasted about losing weight,” she said. “But in any case, the box says that they’re a natural product that contains no banned substances.”
Friends and relatives have rallied round the star, asserting that he would not have taken doping products on purpose.
Inter Milan defender Cristian Chivu, the Romania captain, also defended his “friend”, saying that he was “obsessed by his figure”.
“I know that he was always taking tablets to stay in shape,” Chivu said.
“This time he must have just taken the wrong pill. I don’t believe it was an intentional thing.”
Mutu was fired by Chelsea after a positive test for cocaine in 2004, not long after joining the English Premier League club. He subsequently served a seven-month ban for use of a banned substance.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport last year upheld the 17.17-million-euro fine handed to Mutu by FIFA as a punishment for breaching his contract with Chelsea.
The Romanian says he is unable to pay the fine but has offered to make a donation to a charity in its place.
Mutu arrived in Florence in 2006 after a year and a half at Juventus, and this season he has played in 11 Serie A and six Champions League matches, scoring four and three goals in each competition respectively.
ROME (AFP)
Tags: adrian mutu, aggression, ansa news agency, Bari, CHELSEA, cocaine, cristian chivu, curiosity, good faith, inter milan, Italy, losing weight, medical staff, Milan, pharmacologist, premier league, prosecutor, Romania, ROME, sibutramine, slimming tablets, striker, telesport, treatment of obesity, tuscan, tv channelRelated posts
No surgery for Dempsey eases US World Cup fears
January 20, 2010
Fulham striker Clint Dempsey will not require surgery to repair his injured right knee, the English Premier League side announced Tuesday, easing US fears that he might be lost for the World Cup.
Dempsey, who plays forward as well as attacking midfielder, suffered moderate ligament damage but an MRI scan indicated there was not a torn ligament and that he might play for Fulham before the end of the season.
That means he should be healthy when the Americans face England on June 12 in their World Cup opener in South Africa.
“The news about Clint’s injury is positive, especially given the fact that he will not require surgery,” US coach Bob Bradley said. “We are confident that Clint will be ready to be an important part of our team during the World Cup.”
Dempsey, 26, was injured during a 2-0 Fulham loss Sunday at Blackburn. US team medical staff have spoken daily with Fulham officials since then and will monitor Dempsey’s progress in the months of rehabilitation to come.
Dempsey has 17 goals in 60 caps for the Americans and seven goals for Fulham this season.
The US side is already dealing with injuries to star defender Oguchi Onyewu, who is rehabilitating after knee surgery, and forward Charlie Davies, who suffered two broken right leg bones and a lacerated bladder in a car crash.
CHICAGO (AFP)
Tags: blackburn, bladder, bob bradley, caps, car crash, Charlie, Chicago, Clint, Clint Dempsey, coach bob, England, English Premier League, face england, fulham, knee surgery, leg bones, ligament damage, medical staff, midfielder, mri scan, premier league, South Africa, striker, torn ligament, U.S., world cup openerRelated posts
Inter: Sneijder back for Juventus clash
December 1, 2009
Wesley Sneijder had to pull out of Inter Milan’s last games but is expected to return for this weekend’s top match against Juventus.
Sneijder was part of the squad that travelled to the Camp Nou to face Barcelona for the Champions League (2-0 loss) but eventually wasn’t fit enough to play against the Catalan side. Afterwards, Inter boss Jose Mourinho declared that his team missed Sneijder’s input dearly. The Holland international also pulled out of last weekend’s match against Fiorentina (1-0 win).
Mourinho and Sneijder aimed for a comeback in the much anticipated Derby d’Italia against Juventus on December 5. The Nerazzurri’s medical staff stated that this isn’t a risky gamble. “Everything is on schedulte. Nothing is final, but the chance that Sneijder will play against Juventus on Saturday is very big.” Three days after the match against Juventus, Inter takes on Rubin Kazan in a crucial Champions League match.
Ricardo Quaresma will miss both games. The Portugese winger will be out of action for at least a fortnight after injuring his right knee against Fiorentina on the weekend.
The 26-year-old suffered a straining of his ligament in his knee, but will not require surgery.
Paul Haring
Tags: Barcelona, boss, camp nou, catalan side, champions league, clash, fiorentina, fortnight, Holland, holland international, inter milan, jose mourinho, juventus inter, last games, ligament, match, medical staff, Milan, Paul Haring, ricardo quaresma, risky gamble, rubin kazan, Wesley Sneijder, wingerRelated posts
Aquilani keen on Reds start
November 19, 2009
Alberto Aquilani wait for his first start for Liverpool could be prolonged, after his summer move from AS Roma.
The Merseyside outfit’s boss Rafael Benitez has played down claims the Italy international will start Saturday’s home match with Manchester City.
Aquilani has now recovered from ankle surgery but has so far managed one 15-minute spell in a reserve match and two similar cameo roles in senior matches with Arsenal and Birmingham.
But although Liverpool are still suffering from injury problems ahead of the crunch match with City, Benitez is worried about pushing the Italian too hard who faced six months on the sidelines due to injury problems.
He said: “Alberto wants to play for us and he is so desperate to be involved as quickly as he can but he understands the reasons he cannot start yet.
“He wants to keep improving his condition and now it is just a matter of him keeping calm as it will not be long before he is there. He is pushing us all the time.
“He is very positive and wants to help the team now but you must remember that we have a responsibility to him, and we will not take any risks at this stage.
“We have got to keep analysing the situation and watching him in every training session but we know that the right time is nearly here. He has a very good mentality.”
The 25 year-old is now likely to be named on the bench, with Benitez saying: “You can see in everything he does that he has got quality.
“He knows when to pass at the right time and to the right players, he makes good decisions on the pitch.
“Alberto is training really well and he is doing extra work to make sure he is in the best possible condition; I spoke with him in the gym this week and he is very positive, his spirits are good.
“We have meetings every day with our medical staff to see how much we can keep pushing him and when the time is right to increase the levels of his work.
“He is a player who can pass the ball and we have seen that in the games he has played so far, even though he has not had too much time on the pitch.”
Liverpool expect to have Steven Gerrard, Glen Johnson and Daniel Agger fit to play, although despite doing some light training this week, Fernando Torres is unlikely to be involved.
Fabio Aurelio is still ruled out with a calf injury that robbed him of his first cap for Brazil during the international break, while young striker David Ngog, despite breaking his nose while training with the French Under-21 side, will be in the squad.
Yossi Benayoun and Albert Riera, who are believed to both have had treatment in Belgrade this week with physiotherapist Mariana Kovacevic, could also be involved despite expecting to be out for a month with hamstring injuries.
Kovacevic has come to prominence recently following treatment for Arsenal’s Robin van Persie that involves the use of placenta cells.
Jamie Carragher still has two matches of his three-game suspension to serve, but can be involved in Tuesday’s Champions League trip to Budapest to face Debrecen.
Abhimanyu Rajput
Tags: ankle surgery, arsenal, boss, calm, cameo roles, crunch, decisions, home match, Liverpool, manchester city, medical staff, pitch, rafael benitez, right time, sidelines, six months, spirits, training sessionRelated posts
Chelsea claims compensation for injured Lampard
November 13, 2009
Chelsea will have to do without Frank Lampard for their Premier League summit meeting with Arsenal on November 29 after the England midfielder was ruled out of action for three weeks.
Lampard suffered a thigh injury while training with the England squad in Qatar on Thursday and flew back to London amid fears he could be sidelined for up to two months.
But after he was assessed by Chelsea’s medical staff on Friday morning, a club spokesman predicted that the muscle tear he suffered will need only three weeks to heal.
Chelsea will claim Lampard’s 151,000-pounds-a-week wages in compensation from the Football Association (FA) while he is sidelined.
The FA has dismissed reports that Lampard’s injury was caused by allegedly cramped conditions on the charter plane England used to fly to Doha for Saturday’s friendly with Brazil.
The same plane has been used by the squad for much longer trips, notably to Trinidad and to Kazakhstan.
LONDON (AFP)
Tags: arsenal, brazil, charter plane, CHELSEA, club spokesman, cramped conditions, England, england squad, fears, fly, football association, frank lampard, friday morning, kazakhstan, london, medical staff, midfielder, premier league, Qatar, summit meeting, thigh injury, Trinidad, wagesRelated posts
Injured Lampard set to miss Arsenal clash
November 13, 2009
Chelsea’s medical staff has calculated that Frank Lampard will need three weeks to recover from his thigh injury. The 31-year-old midfielder sustained the knock during a training session with England.
Earlier reports suggested Lampard might be sidelined for up to eight weeks. The versatile midfielder returned home from Qatar on Friday, where the Three Lions are preparing for a friendly against Brazil, and the Chelsea medical staff revealed the injury is not as bad as first feared.
Lampard could miss a number of games including the top matches against Manchester City and Arsenal.
Paul Haring
Tags: arsenal, brazil, CHELSEA, clash, England, frank lampard, games, manchester city, medical staff, midfielder, Qatar, thigh injury, three lions, training sessionRelated posts
US forward Davies released from hospital
November 11, 2009
Charlie Davies, severely injured in a car crash last month after helping the United States qualify for the World Cup, was released from hospital on Tuesday after four weeks of treatment and recovery.
The 23-year-old forward was a passenger in a vehicle that crashed on a parkway in suburban Washington, where the US squad stayed ahead of a 2-2 draw with Costa Rica after a qualifying victory in Honduras had secured a Cup berth.
Davies, who plays for French club Sochaux, will work with the medical staff of the US national team in his rehabilitation after suffering a broken right tibia and femur, lacerated bladder, broken left elbow and facial fractures.
“Charlie faces a long recovery,” said James DeBritz, Washington Hospital Center’s orthopedic trauma director. “It will take time and extensive physical therapy for his bones and soft tissue to heal.
“His overall health, age and positive attitude should help him to have a good outcome.”
A passenger in the car, Ashley Roberta, 22, was killed in the one-car wreck. The driver, who has not been identified, was also hospitalized in the incident, which is still under investigation by US Park Police.
Davies, who scored three goals in 13 matches this year as a regular starter, is expected to need between six and 12 months to recover, all-but ensuring he will not play in the 2010 World Cup finals next June in South Africa.
“I would like to take the time to thank everyone who has dealt with me for really putting in the time to help me get better as a person and as an athlete,” Davies said in a statement.
“I continue to improve every day and I look forward to getting back on my feet and attacking rehabilitation.
“Thank you for everyone’s support. It really means a lot to me.”
WASHINGTON (AFP)
Tags: athlete, berth, bladder, car crash, car wreck, Charlie Davies, Costa Rica, elbow, facial fractures, french club, Honduras, James DeBritz, medical staff, orthopedic trauma, park police, physical therapy, positive attitude, Roberta, soft tissue, South Africa, suburban washington, trauma director, U.S, United States, Washington, world cup finalsRelated posts
Dunga denies Roma’s request and calls up Doni and Juan
November 10, 2009
Brazil manager Carlos Dunga has insisted the injured AS Roma-duo Doni and Juan must answer the Brazil call. Roma refuses to release goalkeeper Doni and centre-back Juan for the friendlies against England and Oman.
Doni and Juan missed Roma’s 1-1 draw with Inter Milan on Sunday due to a thigh injury and a calf strain respectively, and the club wants the players to receive treatment in Italy rather than fly to the Middle East with their country.
However, Dunga thinks it’s a clear case. “There is nothing strange in it,” he told the Corriere dello Sport. “We face these two friendlies on dates that were set up by FIFA and so we must follow the official protocol.
“No-one is denying they are injured. It’s so simple: just like it happened on other occasions, the players will be examined by our medical staff and then they will be sent home.
“It is a routine procedure. In fact, Robinho was also called up, despite having a few niggles.”
Yesterday, Roma director Gian Paolo Montali insisted the club has notified the Brazilian Football Federation and the duo will remain at the club’s training ground to continue their recovery process.
Paul Haring
Tags: brazilian football federation, calf strain, carlos dunga, clear case, corriere dello sport, doni, FIFA, friendlies, inter milan, Italy, medical staff, Middle East, occasions, Oman, protocol, Robinho, routine procedure, thigh injuryRelated posts
Spanish side hit by swine flu
October 30, 2009
Thirteen players from Spanish outfit Betis have contracted the H1N1 flu virus, prompting the second division side’s medical staff to request Thursday the postponement of Sunday’s meeting with Villarreal B.
“The symptoms correspond to the H1N1 strain. Almost the whole team is affected,” said official Tomas Calero.
Calero added the medical staff were requesting that training be suspended for at least three days.
Betis are the first Spanish side known to be afflicted by the H1N1 flu virus but concerns have increasingly been raised about its possible latent presence in other leagues in recent days.
English Premiership side Blackburn Rovers have been affected by a bout of swine flu with three players, as well as staff members, diagnosed.
Nearby rivals Bolton also revealed several of their players have contracted the illness.
And last week’s match in the French first division between Paris Saint Germain and Marseille was called off after three PSG players were found to be ill.
MADRID (AFP)
Tags: blackburn rovers, Bolton, calero, english premiership, flu, flu virus, Germain, least three days, Marseille, medical staff, PARIS, paris saint germain, postponement, premiership side, psg, rivals, spanish side, staff members, Tomas Calero, VillarrealRelated posts
Rangers desperate to bury Euro nightmare
October 24, 2009
Rangers defender Sasa Papac has targeted a winning run in the Scottish Premier League as they aim to put their European humiliation behind them.
The Bosnian played in the 4-1 humiliation handed out by Romanian minnows Unirea Urzceni at Ibrox to leave the Gers’ Champions League hopes hanging by a thread.
Rangers return to domestic duty this weekend as they take on Hibernian, hoping to hold on to top spot in the league and heap pressure on Old Firm rivals Celtic who don’t play Hamilton until Sunday.
The Easter Road outfit have been rejuvenated under new boss John Hughes and currently sit in third place, just two points behind the leaders.
Hibs have had an excellent start to the league campaign with Hughes adding quality additions to the squad in the shape of Anthony Stokes and Liam Miller.
A win for the Edinburgh side would see them take top spot in the table from their hosts.
Walter Smith’s problems have mounted after their midweek European disaster with the news midfielder Pedro Mendes and defensive lynchpin Madjid Bougherra could be missing for several weeks with knee injuries.
Portuguese playmaker Mendes was taken off at half-time against Unirea after giving Rangers the lead in the match. His is the more serious of the injuries with fears he could be ruled out for two months.
Medical staff are more optimistic about Algerian defender Bougherra’s injury but he will definitely miss Saturday’s match.
It is the last thing the supporters want to hear as they try to get over such a disastrous result but Papac says going on a winning run in the league could ease their pain.
“If you are playing for Rangers, every game is important and you must try to take three points every time you step out on the park,” said Papac.
“That will be the case against Hibs this weekend, especially because we will be playing them at Ibrox. I hope we can beat them because going on a winning run could end up being so important to us in the end.
“In Scotland, you need to have over 80 points to win the SPL title and we are still some way from that. It is vital we come out on top as often as possible and especially this weekend. Hibs are a good team and they’re doing very well just now.”
On Sunday, Celtic are away to Hamilton looking to bounce back from their disappointing goalless draw against Motherwell at Parkhead.
Striker Marc-Antoine Fortune has resumed light training but the game against Hamilton has come too early for him.
Defender Glenn Loovens is back after suspension and Andreas Hinkel has recovered from injury. Landry N’Guemo is also in contention after being dropped for the Motherwell match but full-back Daniel Fox is out.
In Saturday’s other fixtures Hearts take on bottom-placed club Falkirk, St Mirren host Motherwell and Aberdeen welcome Dundee United to Pittodrie.
Mark McGhee’s side know a win could see them leapfrog United into the European spots and include new signing Maurice Ross in their squad.
Former Celtic striker Mark Burchill could make his debut for Kilmarnock in their game against St Johnstone.
Fixtures (1500 GMT unless otherwise stated)
Saturday
Aberdeen v Dundee United, Hearts v Falkirk, Kilmarnock v St Johnstone, Rangers v Hibernian, St Mirren v Motherwell
Sunday
Hamilton v Celtic (1230)
GLASGOW (AFP)
Tags: Aberdeen, Anthony Stokes, bosnian, champions league, daniel fox, Dundee, Easter Road, Edinburgh, Falkirk, Glasgow, Hamilton, hanging by a thread, heap, humiliation, john hughes, knee injuries, league campaign, liam miller, lynchpin, marc antoine fortune, mark mcghee, Maurice, medical staff, motherwell, new boss, pedro mendes, playmaker, premier league, quality additions, sasa papac, Scottish Premier League, spl, walter smithRelated posts
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