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.
It is not known whether the substance detected in the sample is regarded as performance-enhancing or recreational.
Xavier is expected to make a public statement on Tuesday morning.
A statement on the Middlesbrough website said it "does not feel it is in a position to make any comment at this time".
Xavier 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.
MMIX
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