Mutu banned for 9 months

Fiorentina striker Adrian Mutu has been suspended for nine months by the Italian Olympic Committee’s anti-doping tribunal.

The 31-year-old Romanian twice tested positive for sibutramine following games against Bari and Lazio in January, and will be unable to play until October 29.

“I’m not happy,” Mutu said on Monday. “A suspension this long for a laxative seems excessive.”

In 2004, Mutu received a seven-month ban for testing positive for cocaine during his time with Chelsea.

His lawyer said they hadn’t ruled out an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne, Switzerland.