Barcelona defender Frank de Boer faces a lengthy ban from European club football after failing a second drugs test. A urine sample taken from the Holland international after the UEFA Cup quarter-final against Celta Vigo on March 15 tested positive for the banned substance nandrolone.
The second test, conducted in Lausanne and performed on another sample taken after the same game, also gave a positive reading for the hormone, revealing a nandrolone level of 7.1 nanograms while the first measured 8.6. The permitted level is two.
De Boer's international team-mate Edgar Davids was suspended indefinitely earlier this month by the Italian football association (FIGC) after he failed a test following a Serie A match with Udinese on March 4. The Juventus midfielder is awaiting a hearing with the FIGC to learn the full extent of his punishment.
Both Davids and de Boer have been named in the Holland squad for Saturday's World Cup qualifier against Estonia. Davids is free to play as the suspension currently applies only to games under the FIGC's jurisdiction and not UEFA or FIFA matches. (PA)
Filed by Shane Murray
