Quote:
Middlesbrough's Portuguese defender Abel Xavier has been suspended by Fifa from all competitions after a positive drugs test, the club has announced.
The 32-year-old former Liverpool player was tested after the Uefa Cup tie against Xanthi on 29 September and produced a positive sample.
A statement on the club website said it "does not feel it is in a position to make any comment at this time".
Xavier is expected to make a public statement on Tuesday morning.
The defender has won 20 caps for his country and first came to England in 1999, when he joined Everton from PSV Eindhoven.
He spent two and a half seasons with Everton before moving to Liverpool, but despite scoring on his Liverpool debut, he only made 13 league starts at Anfield.
After a loan spell at Galatasaray, he became a free agent and joined Roma at the start of this year, leaving when he failed to agree terms for a new contract.
He joined Boro at the end of August as a replacement for Michael Reiziger, who left the Riverside to join PSV.
Xavier has played for Boro since the Xanthi game, in the 3-2 Premiership win over Aston Villa, but he was not involved in Saturday's 1-1 draw with Portsmouth
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Took them this long to realise it? I thought after he died his hair and beard bleached blonde the authoritities would have caught on.
Be interesting to see what kind of drug it is. I always wonder why they even risk the comfortable life they have for drugs.
Makes no sense to me
Xavier suspended after drugs test
