Mutu banned for seven months

Romania striker Adrian Mutu has been banned for seven months by the English Football Association following his positive drugs test.

Comeback planned
The 25-year-old received the suspension at an FA disciplinary commission hearing in London today, subject to the player successfully completing a programme of education and rehabilitation. It will be backdated to 25 October, when Mutu was placed under an interim order, and will run until 18 May 2005. The forward was also fined €28,620 and will be tested throughout the period of the ban.

Return planned
The FA is to request that FIFA impose a worldwide ban on the player. However, Mutu, who was sacked by his club Chelsea FC last Friday following the positive test for cocaine in September, does plan to return to the game as a "stronger player all-round, and at the highest possible level".

'Personal difficulties'
Mutu, who has already begun a rehabilitation programme, has apologised publicly to the Premiership club and its supporters. A statement from his laywers added: "Our client sincerely regrets having taken a prohibited substance. Although he believes and appreciates that this behaviour was unacceptable, he had been suffering severe personal difficulties at the time."