Adrian Mutu's troubled career has taken another negative turn with a positive drug test. The Italian Olympic Committee (Coni) said the Fiorentina forward failed the test following a Serie A game with Bari on 10 January.
Traces of the substance sibutramine, usually used as an appetite suppressant in treatments for obesity, had been found in a sample provided by the 31-year-old, Coni said.
"Coni announces that a positive test has been confirmed on Adrian Mutu with the presence of metabolics of sibutramine found in tests done by the FIGC on 10 January after the Serie A game between Fiorentina and Bari," the committee said.
This is Mutu's second failed drug test. In 2004 the Romania international was sacked by Chelsea after testing positive for cocaine, and was given a seven-month worldwide football ban. Chelsea sued Mutu for breach of contract, and the player is in the process of making a third appeal against a fine of more than €17m (£14.75m).
After serving his ban Mutu joined Juventus in January 2005 before moving to Fiorentina at the end of the following season. After struggling earlier this season, Mutu has recently started to regain his form, scoring five goals this month including one in the game against Bari.
Mutu is under contract with the Viola until June 2012 and has struck four goals in 11 league appearances for Fiorentina this season.