Juventus and Holland midfielder Edgar Davids was today banned for five months and fined for doping offences, Italian football disciplinary chiefs announced.
The suspension means that the ‘pit-bull’ will miss out on Saturday’s crucial World Cup qualifier in Lansdowne Road, despite having being included in the Dutch squad.
The 28-year-old, having been provisionally suspended since May, will be eligible to return to first team action in October and could play in the match between Bologna and Juventus on the 21st of that month.
Also banned for a similar length of time and fined was Parma defender Stefano Torrisi who could return to action on November 18 when Juventus play Parma.
Davids, nicknamed the 'pitbull' for his aggressive style of play and a member of the Dutch sides that reached the semi-finals of the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000, has always denied using illegal products but tested positive for norandrosterone and noretiocolanolone after the match between Juventus and Udinese on March 4.