FC Barcelona and Holland star de Boer faces long ban

FC Barcelona expect central defender Frank de Boer to banned for at least a year by the Spanish FA after his dope test failure was confirmed today.

The Holland captain's A-sample produced a result of 8.6 milligrams per litre of blood which is over four times the permitted level. on a sample taken after a UEFA Cup game in March against Celta Vigo and today the B-test was confirmed as showing a similar result.

"We can confirm that Barcelona have been informed that the player's B-sample is positive," a spokesman for the Catalan club told Reuters news agency today.

A UEFA disciplinary committee meeting on June 14th could ban the 30 year old signed from Ajax in 1999 for up to two years but uintil then he is free to play and he is included in the Dutch national team squad for a 2002 World Cup qualifier on June 2nd.

The de Boer case developments are the lastest in a succession of drug stories in Europe this season.

Italy's Serie A has seen two players produce 'non-negative' drug test results after Bari's game with Parma AC last month including Parma defender Stefano Torissi.

Two Perugia stars were banned for two years earlier this season and SS Lazio defender Fernando Couto was banned indefinitely and faces long term punishment after failing dope tests earlier this year and Juventus midfielder Edgar Davids is banned for sxteen months after testing 'non-negative' two months ago for nandrolone.

Davids and de Boer's case has seen the KNVB look at recent diet supplements given to their players but today the Dutch authorities said that they were not to blame for the nandrolone tests after an independent test.