Boro cancel Xavier contract
Monday, January 23, 2006
Article summary
Middlesbrough FC have parted company with Abel Xavier after the defender failed in his appeal against a suspension for a breach of anti-doping regulations.
Article body
Contract terminated
"Boro have confirmed that they have terminated the 12-month contract of Abel Xavier," the English Premiership club said on their website today. Xavier, 33, joined Middlesbrough on a free transfer from AS Roma in August. However, he made just four league appearances and two in the UEFA Cup.
Ban upheld by UEFA
It was after the second of those European games - against Skoda Xanthi FC in Greece on 29 September – that the former Portuguese international underwent a doping control test which had a positive result. Xavier was subsequently suspended for 18 months by UEFA's Control and Disciplinary Committee for a breach of anti-doping rules in November, with the ban being upheld the following month by UEFA's Appeals Body.