Davids To Appeal Against Reduced Ban
Wednesday 29th August 2001
Holland midfielder Edgar Davids will appeal against his suspension for testing positive for nandrolone, despite seeing an eight-month ban reduced on Tuesday. Five months is much too long, we are obviously going for a full acquittal, Davids said on Wednesday.
I was informed late last night that the suspension is set at five months, Davids continued. However, my [legal] team and myself are obviously not satisfied with that.
We have immediately appealed, so we will have to wait and see how this will develop.
Juventus had hoped to be able to reintroduce Davids into their squad in time for the start of the Champions' League programme, but now have to wait until the match with Bologna on October 21 by which stage the 28-year-old would have served a five-month suspension.
Tuesday's ruling by the disciplinary committee of the Italian federation is also a blow for Holland coach Louis van Gaal, whose side will face the Republic of Ireland in a crucial World Cup qualifier on Saturday. However, he had taken the eventuality that Davids could still be sidelined for the Dublin clash into account.
Since nobody arrived for the preparations injured, the only disappointment is Edgar Davids, Van Gaal confirmed. However, it was of course by no means certain [that he would be eligible to play] and that's why I have selected 19 players. It was a scenario that we have talked about.
Van Gaal earlier explained that he had invited Davids along because he was hopeful the midfielder would see his ban lifted on Tuesday. Despite this not being the case, he believed that Holland's influential vice-captain could still have a positive influence on the rest of the squad.
Davids, despite his own absence, remained bullish about the chances of the Dutch pulling off a much needed victory at Lansdowne Road on Saturday.
Of course we have to win again and we will have to work hard in order to beat the Republic, which certainly isn't easy, conceded Davids. I will also play my part so we can travel to Ireland as well prepared as possible.
Besides the uncertainty surrounding Davids, the Dutch camp have had to deal with other distractions during the build-up to the match against the Republic.
Holland's reserve keeper Sander Westerveld, of Liverpool, has discovered that his club have made an offer for Feyenoord shot-stopper Jerzy Dudek.
New Lazio recruit Jaap Stam, meanwhile, surprised everybody, not least himself, with his departure from Manchester United.
Van Gaal admitted on Tuesday night that he could do without such distractions, though he admitted it was nothing new to him.
There are always goings-on around the national squad. There hasn't been an international match without any stuff happening. So the players and the coach have gained some experience during the last year.
I believe that it's always better to have some peace and quiet during the preparations. However, goings-on are part of the world of football nowadays, Van Gaal concluded.
