Lazio and Portugual international Fernando Couto confirmed today he had tested positive for a banned substance but said he was confident he would be cleared of wrongdoing.
The defender failed a post-match dope test after Lazio's 4-1 win at Fiorentina on January 28th. The results of the second sample will be announced later this month.
It is unknown what the the banned substance is. But Italian and Portuguese media have widely reported it is the anabolic steroid nandrolone.
If the second test confirms the first, Couto faces a ban of at least a year. Two players from Serie A side Perugia and one from second division Pescara were given 16-month bans for similar offences earlier this season.
Lazio have issued a statement strongly denying club staff had administered any banned substances.