Portugal defender Fernando Couto will not feature against the Republic of Ireland this weekend after FIFA today suspended him indefinitely.
Dutch international Edgar Davids has also been suspended.Both players tested positive for the banned substance nandrolone.
Couto tested positive for nandrolone after Lazio's Serie A game against Fiorentina in January. He was banned in Italy on April 27th when a second sample taken also revealed traces of the prohibited substance.
Davids, who plays for Italian giants Juventus, tested positive for the same substance after a match against Udinese on March 4th.He was suspended from playing club football in Serie A after failing a second test two weeks ago.
The players are suspended with immediate effect and will take no part in upcoming World Cup qualifying games.
Couto was selected in Portugal's squad to face Ireland at Lansdowne Road on Saturday and Cyprus next Wednesday.Davids will miss the Netherlands visit to Estonia on Saturday.
Netherlands captain Frank de Boer faces a possible ban after a B-sample taken after a UEFA Cup quarter-final match against Celta Vigo in March proved positive.
UEFA has set a provisional date of June 14th for the Barcelona club man’s hearing.It is not known how much nandrolone was detected in de Boer’s sample.