Xavier appeals against drugs ban

Xavier vows to fight drugs charge Xavier suspended after drugs test Xavier's career in statistics

Middlesbrough defender Abel Xavier has decided to appeal against an 18-month ban for failing a drugs test.

The 32-year-old tested positive for a banned steroid after Boro's Uefa Cup game in Xanthi on 29 September.

Uefa has confirmed Xavier has lodged an appeal and a hearing is likely to take place early in 2006.

Xavier has strenuously denied any wrongdoing and is understood to have told Uefa he unknowingly took the drug in a contaminated supplement.

The former Liverpool and Everton player was banned at a hearing in Nyon after being found guilty of testing positive for the banned anabolic steroid dianabol.

ABEL XAVIER FACTFILE 1972: Born 30 Nov in Mozambique 1993: Joins Benfica and makes international debut for Portugal 1999: After spells with Bari, Real Oviedo and PSV, joins Everton for £1.6m 2000: Suspended for nine months - later reduced to three - by Uefa for grabbing the arm of the assistant referee during Euro 2000 semi against France 2001: Joins Liverpool but makes just 13 appearances 2005: Joins Middlesbrough on a one-year deal atfer spells with Galatasaray and Roma

Xavier is the first Premiership player to be found to have taken performance-enhancing - as opposed to recreational - drugs.

Edgar Davids, now with Tottenham, was found guilty of taking nandrolone while with Juventus, while Jaap Stam was found to have taken it while at Lazio, after leaving Manchester United.

Uefa said in a statement: "The player was found guilty of being in breach of the Uefa anti-doping regulations. As a result, the Uefa control and disciplinary body decided to impose an 18-month ban on Abel Xavier."

Middlesbrough have yet to make an official response to Xavier's ban but it is believed they will immediately terminate his contract if his appeal is turned down.

The club signed the Portuguese international for a year on a free transfer in August following his release by Italian side Roma.

He has been capped 20 times by Portugal and has played for both Liverpool and Everton as well as Benfica, Galatasaray and PSV Eindhoven.