No Hope For Dope

Middlesbrough's defender Abel Xavier has been suspended from all football by world governing body FIFA. The Portuguese defender failed the drugs test after last month's UEFA Cup game in Xanthi. The 32 year-old Portuguese international is likely to issue a statement tomorrow morning, when he would have to answer the most important question - namely, what banned substance has he tested positive for? Middlesbrough issued a brief statement to confirm Xavier produced a urine sample which returned a positive result after the September 29 second leg of Boro's first-round UEFA Cup match against their Greek opponents.

The FA is targeting a top Premiership player who is suspected of using banned blood boosting drugs. The news comes only days after Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger voiced his concerns that the banned hormone EPO (erythropoietin) had been unwittingly administered to some of the foreign players who had arrived at his club. A number of players in recent times has be accused of using banned substance, Adrian Mutu (ex Chelsea player, now with Juventus) tested positive for using cocaine while Manchester United star Rio Ferdinand was suspended for eight months after he failed to take a drug test.

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