Blatter Blamed In Davids Drugs Row
Thursday 2nd August 2001
Edgar Davids' lawyer Robert Geerlings has reacted angrily to Fifa president Sepp Blatter's comments that the Holland international has tested positive for more than the banned steroid nandrolone. "Blatter's remarks are absolutely not true," Geerlings said.
"I believe that his remarks, given his position, are of a very questionable nature," he added.
Earlier on Thursday, Blatter had revealed that more than just traces of nandrolone were detected when Davids failed a routine drugs test after Juventus' match against Udinese on March 4.
"I think it isn't only the question of nandrolone," Blatter told the Dutch sports program NOS Sportjournaal. "There was something else as well, but I can't say any more than that at the moment."
Later on Thursday afternoon, a Fifa spokesman attempted to play down Blatter's comments.
"It was a misunderstanding," he said. "The president spoke about doping twice: first, during the press conference, he confirmed that Fifa has extended to international level all the suspensions for doping in every country.
"Secondly, answering a specific question from NOS television about Davids he said: 'I don't know why the final sentence has not yet been decided.
'I'm not a doctor and I'm not a specialist on this subject. There could be some different elements that would explain why the inquiry has taken so long.' Blatter never led anyone to understand that these 'different elements' could be referred to as 'different doping substances'."
Davids has denied taking the banned substance knowingly, claiming that the results of the positive drugs test must be connected to the homeopathic medicine he has taken for glaucoma.
Geerlings, meanwhile, claimed that laboratory tests have proven that the homeopathic medicine Davids uses can cause positive results in nandrolone tests although the steroid is not present in the treatment.
"One of the supplements, a homoeopathic drink that he coincidentally was prescribed by a doctor during this period, led to test result that looked like a nandrolone positive test," Geerlings said.
"We have tested the homoeopathic drink in several laboratories and the first results show that there is a substance in the drink, which isn't nandrolone or a derivative, which could produce a positive test result as if it were nandrolone.
"We are still working on a few tests that will have to confirm that this substance is indeed producing this false positive result."
Juventus refused to comment on what Blatter had said, with managing director Luciano Moggi snapping angrily at journalists: "Juventus only know about the official results of the tests."
Coach Marcello Lippi simply brushed aside questions at Thursday's press conference. "I don't want to speak about that at all," he said.
Davids has been suspended by Italian Federation since May 17 and Fifa extended the ban worldwide on May 31.
Davids' Holland team-mate Frank de Boer, however, has seen his ban reduced from 12 months to just two months by a Uefa appeals committee, but intends a further appeal against the charge that he knowingly used the anabolic steroid to enhance his performance towards the end of last season.
Like De Boer, Davids' chances of success could hinge on scientific research.
De Boer's successful appeal rested on recent revelations from German scientist Wilhelm Schanzer, who proved the link between rogue elements in dietary supplements and positive tests for the banned steroid.
