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Middlesbrough welcome Xavier back

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Former Portugal defender Abel Xavier has signed a contract until the end of the season with English club Middlesbrough FC after completing a ban for doping.

Former Portugal defender Abel Xavier has signed a contract with Middlesbrough FC until the end of the season after completing a ban for doping.

Contract cancelled
The English Premiership team cancelled his contract in January after an appeal against a positive test for a performance-enhancing steroid was rejected by UEFA. "In no way do we condone the taking of drugs but the ban was reduced by the game's governing authorities, which suggests there was a significant reason for that," said Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate. The offence related to Middlesbrough's UEFA Cup tie at Skoda Xanthi FC on 29 September 2005.

Suspension cut
Originally banned for 18 months, Xavier's suspension was cut to 12 months by the Court of Arbitration for Sport in July. The Mozambique-born 33-year-old has played for a number of leading clubs including SL Benfica, PSV Eindhoven, Everton FC, Liverpool FC and AS Roma, and won 20 caps for Portugal.