By Osasu Obayiuwana BBC Sport

Kallon says he is innocent

Inter Milan's Sierra Leonean forward Mohamed Kallon has vowed to clear his name after the Italian Olympic Committee revealed that he tested positive for the banned steroid nandrolone.

Kallon's positive sample was taken after Inter's league game against Udinese on 27 September.

"My conscience is clear," the 24-year-old told Thursday's edition of the Italian sports daily Tuttosport.

Kallon, who is suspended from playing until further notice, will demand a test on the 'B' sample within the stipulated 10-day period.

The Sierra Leonean could face a ban of up to two years if he is confirmed guilty of drug-taking.

But the events surrounding Kallon's positive result have taken a new turn after it was revealed that he has been picked on two other occasions - in the six-week old season - to provide samples for drug tests.

He also provided samples after a league game against Modena and the derby against AC Milan on 5 October, which they lost 3-1.

"These revelations are quite surprising," Milan-based journalist Kevin Buckley told the BBC Sport website.

"Players are picked at random for these tests after each match, so the chances of one player being tested twice in such a short period is unlikely - but three times is unheard of."

A domestic ban from the Italian Federation could affect Kallon's international career with Sierra Leone, as Fifa could extend the jurisdiction of the sanction under article 141 of its disciplinary code.