Xavier's ban cut to a year
Former Middlesbrough defender Abel Xavier has had his 18-month doping suspension cut to a year by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
UEFA imposed the ban on the Portuguese defender last November after he tested positive for anabolic steroids two months earlier.
An initial appeal to UEFA failed in December, but Xavier vowed to contest the guilty verdict by going to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
A UEFA spokesman said in a statement: “We are surprised by the verdict but cannot make any further comments before receiving the detailed reasoning of the decision.”
Xavier tested positive during his spell at Middlesbrough and the Premiership side terminated the full-back’s contract in January after his failed appeal.
The 33-year-old, who became the first player from the Premiership to be banned for taking performance-enhancing drugs, has been capped 20 times by Portugal.
He has played his club football for both Liverpool and Everton, as well as Benfica, Galatasaray and PSV Eindhoven.
