A statement said traces of anti-obesity drug sibutramine were found in a sample after a Serie A match between his Fiorentina side and Bari on 10 January.
Romania international striker Adrian Mutu has tested positive for a banned substance, according to the Italian Olympic Committee.
The 31-year-old tested positive for cocaine in 2004 while at Chelsea.
Mutu was banned for seven months by the Football Association, but he could face a four-year ban for a second offence.
Sibutramine is an appetite suppressant drug used for obese people, although it was recently banned in the UK amid fears over the increased risks of heart attacks and strokes.
Mutu has been in excellent form for the Florence-based club, scoring seven times this season - including a goal in the 2-1 win over Bari.
But away from the pitch a Swiss Federal Court is nearing a ruling on his appeal against the Court of Arbitration for Sport, which said he must pay Chelsea 17m Euros (£14.62m) for breach of contract. Read more…
The Juventus coach tried to relieve the tension by creating as normal an atmosphere as possible: “At this time, I don’t need to be any braver than usual, I just need to appreciate the difficult nature of the situation and I am not ashamed to discuss it. After all, taking criticism and handling controversy is part of this job. Rather than shunning it, you have to take it on the chin, at both the good times and the bad. I’ll say it again with absolutely no embarassment as I have nothing to be embarassed about. Results are not coming my way, but I have always acted professionally, honestly and with principle, doing everything I can to make things better. And I will keep on doing this until the club tells me that it has decided differently.”
Respect — “If that should happen” Ferrara continued, “I will accept the club’s decision with total respect, reassured that I gave a lot and received a lot from the club, first as a player then as a manager, and now also the chance to steer the team from the bench. For my part, I have always behaved seriously and professionally, which is why I am not ashamed at the moment and have never thought of resigning. I haven’t even asked to talk it over, because I know what I have to do, which is to keep on doing it, i.e. try to turn things around and get some important results.” Read more…
“Without doubt, I saw some bad signs, and they made it very clear to see” said Moratti when leaving the stadium. “The referee was wrong. You could see I wasn’t happy in the stands (after Sneijder’s dismissal), and I’m still not happy.
Inter president Massimo Moratti is extremely satisfied with his team’s derby victory, but the same can’t be said for the refereeing decisions which add to the midweek controversy surrounding the rescheduling of fixtures.
“We were wrongfully in numerical inferiority for most of the game, but we controlled it well and we won. This shows what great character and playing ability the team has.”
“It was a great joy, it was a very important goal,” said Pandev. “We were suffering but we reacted and confirmed our strength with a goal that is important for everybody.
Goran Pandev won’t forget his first Milan derby. The Macedonian striker was set to be substituted, but with one last kick of the ball he sent a curling free kick beyond Dida to stun the Rossoneri.
“I should have scored before but I hit the post. I was a bit unlucky, but it went better for Milito’s goal. We had worked on these schemes all week. We deserved to win.
“I haven’t scored many goals from free kicks. Do I follow the advice of Wesley? I can only learn from him. He is very important for our team, and not just for his free kicks. Read more…
It is the second time Becks has lost to Jose in the match-up. Mourinho claimed there was a plot against Inter after having two men sent off.
Mourinho ruled the roost after his side saw off David Beckham’s AC Milan.
Inter moved nine points clear of their city rivals at the top of Serie A following a fiery San Siro derby.
Sneijder went for dissent in the 26th minute.
Lucio was also dismissed for handball late on although Ronaldinho had the resulting penalty saved by Julio Cesar.
Jose Mourinho rapped: “Everything was done to try to prevent Inter from winning. But we will win the Scudetto.
“We would have won this game even with seven men.” Beckham, who was booked in the third minute, has been told he can play until he is 40. Read more…
Juventus coach, Ciro Ferrara, very satisfied and relieved after his team beat Torino 3-0 in round 16 of the Coppa Italia. This result make he still maintained at least until the end of the season.
Napili opponent’s game is crucial position. If Juve lose, then it is likely he will be fired immediately. So, he’s very grateful to the players who want to follow instructions and play with great enthusiasm.
“Very clearly this game is very, very important for anyone, not just for me. I think the players are dealing with the situation the best way to focus, attention, and the perfect spirit,” said Ferrara.
“Napoli has a good chance from Marek Hamsik who kick hit the goalpost. But, overall Juventus won the game prove worthy,” he added.
Mentioned about the issue of firring, Ferrara said, “We have developed a lot of rumors.”
He even explains his team plan to spend on players this January transfer window. “We’ll be working to buy the players needed to replace several players who left. We also must get the injured players recover quickly. We have little choice when in this game,” he explained. Read more…
Juventus coach Ciro Ferrara describes himself like a Hollywood movie characters, Rocky Balboa, which is a boxer who often bloody but will never give up.
“My friend recently told me, ‘You’re like Rocky.” I had already received so many blows and has been covered with blood, but I would say to my opponent, ‘You cannot hurt me. And I will be stronger when you’re hurting me. ” Nothing could make me give up, “said the former Juve defender.
Ferrara is currently being buffeted by a storm after his team had poor results since December. After eliminated from the Champions League, Juve are also often lost in the Serie-A. Last Del Piero and his colleagues are bent Milan 0-3 at home.
He also began to push to retired by a supporter. Guus Hiddink’s name was widely mentioned as a potential replacement of Ferrara. Of course this makes a Ferrara was getting depressed.
Game against Napoli in the Coppa Italy, Wednesday (13 / 1), maybe will be his last game with Juve.
Juventus coach, Ciro Ferrara, states will not resign from Juventus. However, if the club thinks he does not deserve to lead Juventus, he was ready to be fired.
The statement relates to the 0-3 defeat suffered by Juventus in the face AC Milan in Serie-A follow-up, Sunday (10.1.2010). Results were made Juventus stuck in third position with 33 points, or lose 12 points from Inter Milan at the top of the league.
Apart from the prestige and shame to lose at home, it makes even more trouble chasing Juventus scudetto. Although mathematically still able to pursue, referring to the performance, Juventus did not show significant performance improvements to compete with Inter Milan and reach.
Ferrara realized, unstable Juventus performance at high levels is a source of difficulty Juventus. And, as a coach, he realized his responsibility for it. However, he refused to give up and will do my best, as long trusted by the club. Read more…
AC Milan midfielder, Andrea Pirlo, satisfied with his team 3-0 victory over Juventus in Serie-A follow-up, at the Stadio Olimpico Grande, Sunday (10.1.2010). According to him, with this victory, his team could be evicted Inter Milan at the top.
Before the fight, there are many who predict Milan Juve would embarrass himself in front of supporters. Milan votes were in the best performance. Meanwhile, Juve are in crisis puddle. This assumption is not excessive even after winning Milan’s first goal by Alessandro Nesta.
Then, in a great pressure from Juventus, Milan showed the superiority with a pair of Ronaldinho goal in the second half. Thanks to this victory, Milan firmly in second place and only eight digits adrift of Inter.
Pirlo rate this victory Milan has not established measures to scudetto. However, he said, this victory is important to shorten the distance with Inter. He was convinced by one match postponed, the team can be enthroned at the top of the league.
“This victory does not determine (scudetto), but it is important to maintain consistency and distance with Inter after their win yesterday,” he said. Read more…
