Dutch captain and Barcelona defender Frank De Boer's one-year doping ban from all European competitions has been extended to cover international events as well by soccer's world governing body FIFA.
De Boer is appealing the ban imposed by European football governing body UEFA after testing positive for the banned anabolic steroid nandrolone earlier this year. The case will be heard on July 26th.
The FIFA and UEFA bans mean De Boer will not be allowed to play in any international matches and competitions including the World Cup qualifier against the Rep. Of Ireland on September 1st, his lawyer Cor Hellingman said.
De Boer tested positive for nandrolone on March 15th after Barcelona's second leg of the UEFA Cup quarter-final match against Celta Vigo.
The level of nandrolone in his urine sample was registered at four times the permitted level. A second test in May confirmed the results of the first test.
The 31-year-old De Boer has already denied drug use and on May 8th said his "conscience was clear". -AFP