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Soccer Players Busted for Drugs

All the talk here in the United States is about baseball’s Barry Bonds and his sudden bulk up in his old age and bigger head, and now the Mitchel report, naming names, but around the soccer world there have been a few busts too.  Not on the scale of Bonds, but the media swirl surrounded a few stars on the football pitch.  Below are just a few of the names. 

On one hand you can't really fault a player for wanting to do anything to keep playing at a high level, but many times these are players who have already won titles and championships--they've won the support of the fans.  In a way they get greedy.  In the end taking drugs to boost their play only deflates their integrity with the fans and their place in the  history of the game. 

However, playing at such a high level must be like a drug for a player, the cheering and applause, their names part of a song heard around the stadium--tough to leave the game as you get older and players stupidly turn to anything to keep them on the pitch.  Especially if they suffer an injury and are trying to get back into the side.  Many players resort to using banned substances to heal and recover faster.  But in the long run though they only weaken their game as they damage their overall health.

Kolo Toure The Manchester City defender is ban from the game could be up to two years, however, he said the failed test was due to mistakenly taking a diet pill belonging to the player's wife.

Frank de Boer  Barcelona star Frank de Boer protested his innocence despite testing positive for the banned substance nandrolone.

Edgar Davids  Dutch midfielder and tireless worker, had the nickname the Pit Bull for his strong work ethic, was banned for four months when he played for Juventus after failing a drug test due to Nandralone.  Wears signature wrap around eye goggles because of the eye condition glaucoma.

Josep ‘Pep’ Guardiola Four month ban after testing positive for Nandrolone. Six years later in Oct. 23, 2007, Guardiola was cleared on all charges that brought on this.

Abel Xavier The former Liverpool and Everton player was banned at a hearing in Nyon after being found guilty of testing positive for the banned anabolic steroid dianabol.  A charge that he denied.

Diego Maradona  Probably the sadest case.  One of the greatest players of all time was booted out of the World Cup.  Maradona was suspended for 15 months in 1991 after a failed doping test for cocaine in Italy, and then again for ephedrine during the 1994 World Cup in USA.

Rio Ferdinand  The Manchester United and England defender served a suspension but came back and played at the level he left with no drop off.  It wasn't know what he was on because he never actually took the drug test. He simply skipped it, claiming he was busy moving. He served a stiff penalty though, missing 8 months of the game including Euro 2004.

Mark Bosnich Former Chelsea goalkeeper Mark Bosnic, who was released by the club after testing positive for cocaine and banned for 9 months.  Later stated he had a £5,000 a week cocaine habit.

Jaap Stam  Another Manchester United star busted during his playing days in Italy.  During his time with Lazio, Stam was found guilty of having the banned steroid nandrolone in his system following a Serie A game, and received a 5-month ban, which was eventually reduced by a month after appeals.

Fernando Couto  Portuguese defender banned anabolic steroid nandrolone.

Lee Bowyer  Tested positive for marijuana in a random drug test when he was with Charlton as an 18 year old.  Banned for 8 weeks and dropped from the England under 18 squad. Probably a player who could use a little something to calm him down.

Shaun Newton West Ham attacking right midfielder banned for seven months after a positive test for cocaine.  He now plays for Leicester City.

Adrian Mutu  Fired by Chelsea for failing a drug test--tested positive for cocaine.  He was fined £20,000 and banned for 7 months. The Romanian forward now plays for Fiorentina in the Seria A and Romania has also qualifed for Euro 2008.

Christophe Dugarry  The French footballer tested positive for nandrolone.  Probably best known as the good friend of Zidane, he had spells with teams in France, Spain, England, and Qatar.  At times a crafty forward and great passer of the ball.

Paul Merson Used cocaine but entered drug rehab and escaped a ban while playing with Arsenal.

Claudio Cannigia Argentine forward tested positive for cocaine when he played with Roma.

The latest member of the list is the great Brazilian forward who claimed the drug was for hair loss and not to gain pace, Romario.

Then there are coaches who once played the game and dabbled in sustances that were, at the time legal.

In an interview in 2004, while he was manager of Juventus, Capello admitted that he had taken Micoren, a respiratory aid that acts as a stimulant, while he was a player.

"We all took it. I took it even when I played for the national team. At the time it was not illegal, it only became banned afterwards," he said to L'Espresso, a magazine.

Other sources:  Who Ate All The Pies