Former Manchester City midfielder Samir Nasir, who currently plays for Turkish club, Antalyaspor has fallen into bigger trouble. The player has had his suspension for violating UEFA’s anti-doping regulations increased from six to 18 months.
Samir Nasri was banned for six months at first.
Nasri was first banned for six months after he received a drip treatment at a Los Angeles clinic in 2016. He later appealed for it. On Wednesday, UEFA’s ethics and disciplinary inspector argued that ban was insufficient and European football’s governing body extended it by 12 months.
The ban got enforced on July 1, 2017. Samir Nasri made eight appearances for Turkish side Antalyaspor during that time. However, he can return to training in November. UEFA’s statement says,
“The UEFA Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body’s decision of 22 February 2018 is amended as follows:
1. The player Samir Nasri is suspended for eighteen [18] months. This suspension will start running on 1 July 2017.
2. The player Samir Nasri is allowed to return to training, with any football club starting from 1 November 2018.”
Nasri was pictured in a tweet posted by Drip Doctors in December 2016. In the tweet, they said he was getting treated with “a concierge Immunity IV drip to keep him hydrated and in top health during his busy soccer season with Sevilla”.
Samir Nasri asked that UEFA grant him a backdated therapeutic use exemption (TUE) that would have seen him escape any punishment for the treatment.
After he appealed, UEFA rejected his request and the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) upheld the decision in December last year.
Nasri’s spell with Antalyaspor lasted only six months after he joined from Manchester City in August 2017. He played for Arsenal from 2008 to 2011 before moving to City for £25m. He won the Premier League twice during his time at Etihad Stadium.