Barcelona defender and Dutch captain Frank De Boer has today been handed a one-year doping ban from all
European club competitions by European football's governing body UEFA.
De Boer tested positive for the banned anabolic steroid nandrolone on March 15th after Barcelona's second leg of the UEFA Cup quarter-final matchagainst Celta Vigo.
The level of nandrolone in his urine sample was registered at four times the permitted level. A second test in May confirmed the results of the firsttest.
The 31-year-old De Boer, who has already denied drug use and on May 8th said his "conscience was clear", has three days to appeal the decision.
The ban means that De Boer will not be allowed to play in European-level matches such as the UEFA Cup or the Champions League. -AFP