Stam cleared to return

Stam (white shirt) will be back in the thick of the action soon

Lazio defender Jaap Stam has been given the all-clear to return to action on 16 March following a drugs ban

The former Manchester United defender was given a four-month ban after testing positive for nandrolone in October.

Lazio had originally asked for the ban to be cut, allowing the Dutch stopper to play in the derby match against Roma.

That plea was rejected by the Italian Football Federation and Stam will be available for the match against Brescia.

Protested

Stam was suspended at the same time as Spanish defender Josep Guardiola.

The two players were banned by the Italian Football League on 24 January after testing positive for nandrolone following Serie A matches.

Stam, who joined Lazio from Manchester United this season, tested positive after the 13 October game between Lazio and Atalanta.

Guardiola, who joined Brescia from Barcelona in October, tested positive on two separate occasions - after the match against Piacenza on 21 October and Lazio on 4 November.

Both players protested their innocence but Italian football's anti-doping commission argued the two players should have been banned for 10 months.