by the great one » Thu Nov 04, 2004 5:46 pm
Sacked Chelsea striker Adrian Mutu has been handed a seven-month ban for a positive cocaine test.
An FA statement said Mutu was suspended for seven months "subject to completing a programme of education and rehabilitation".
He was also fined £20,000 and will be subject to target testing throughout the period of the suspension.
Mutu, 25, was at Soho Square for the Football Association hearing and had already said he will not appeal.
The suspension, which is a month less than Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand was given for missing a drugs test, is backdated to start on 25 October.
The ban will end on 18 May - meaning he will not return to action before next season at the earliest.
Former Chelsea goalkeeper Mark Bosnich was banned for nine months last year for cocaine use.
The World Anti-Doping Agency normally recommends a two-year ban but Wada's rules do not cover out-of-competition cocaine use.
The commission said it took into account Mutu's admission of guilt.
The fact he had already booked into a rehabilitation program was also expected to go in his favour.
Professional Footballers' Association chief Gordon Taylor said: "He is now looking forward to getting his career back on track.
"We are appreciative of the Football Association's attitude with the emphasis on education and rehabiliatation. We had a full and fair hearing.
"Adrian has admitted the charge in mitigation and accepted his responsibility from the very beginning.
"He's sorry for the problem that has been caused and wants to restore his good name."
Mutu had his contract terminated on the grounds of 'gross misconduct' under Chelsea's 'zero-tolerance' policy on the use of drugs, a decision criticised by PFA officials.
The Romanian skipper joined Chelsea from Parma in August 2003 for £15.8m.
Speaking before the ban was announced Victor Becali, one of Mutu's representatives, said: "We are not worrying about Mutu's future.
"We already received proposals from four clubs for Mutu, even without knowing his ban yet.
"Two of them are from England," he added without elaborating.
i bet chelsea are regret sacking him now hoping he will get a 2 year ban i would like to congratlate the fa on a fair descion although some may not agree. now rio knows take the coke and confess and is 7 months miss the test 8 months go to italy and take drugs 3 months 
Last edited by
the great one on Thu Nov 04, 2004 5:46 pm, edited 1 time in total.
''I know Mourinho likes to tell people that he is the European champion manager but he's not now. That belongs to Benitez. '' Jamie Carragher
