Adrian Mutu has been ordered by FIFA to pay Chelsea €17.2million in compensation following his failed drugs test in 2004, the Premier League club announced.
Romania striker Mutu, now at Serie A club Fiorentina, was sacked by Chelsea in October 2004 and banned for seven months after failing a drugs test for cocaine.
The 29-year-old's fine is the biggest ever handed down to a footballer and was calculated by FIFA's dispute resolution chamber according to the value of the remaining period on his Stamford Bridge contract.
Chelsea expressed their delight at the ruling but Mutu is likely to appeal the penalty.
'Chelsea Football Club can confirm that it has received the decision from FIFA's Dispute Resolution Chamber (DRC) on the claim made against Adrian Mutu,' a statement on the club's website read.
'Chelsea is delighted with the DRC's decision to award the club £13.68million in compensation.
'This is an important decision for football. Not only did the DRC make us a very significant monetary award, the decision also recognised the damaging effect incidents involving drugs has on football and the responsibilities we all have in this area.
'Chelsea will now be following the process laid out in the DRC's decision to claim the money from Mutu.'
