Former Italy striker Giuseppe Rossi facing a doping ban of up to one year after testing positive for the banned substance dorzolamide, media reports said Tuesday.
Rossi, who won the last of his 30 Azzurri caps in 2014, tested positive following an Italian league match between his team at the time, Genoa, and Benevento on May 12.
Dorzolamide is commonly found in eye drops. Its use is permitted if the athlete obtains a therapeutic use exemption, although if not applied to the eyes, it could be used as a diuretic, according to the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada).
The 31-year-old Rossi, who counts Manchester United, Fiorentina and Villarreal among his former clubs, has denied using eye drops, according to the Gazzetta dello Sport daily.
Eyedrops containing "dorzolamide and brinzolamide, when administered topically in the eye, are not prohibited," according to Wada.
It added: "The rationale behind this exception is these drugs do not have a diuretic effect when topically applied."
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Rossi, whose career has been blighted by injuries and is currently without a club, now faces a one-year ban by the Italian anti-doping agency (Nado), according to reports. Gazzetta reported that Rossi's case is scheduled to be heard on October 1.
Elsewhere in Italy, Juventus will aim to extend their perfect start to the Serie A campaign when they host struggling Bologna in Turin on Wednesday.
The champions have won their opening five league matches to sit three points clear of Napoli, who face Parma at the San Paolo.
Juve's hopes of claiming an eighth successive scudetto have been boosted by Cristiano Ronaldo, their £99 million (Dh478m) recruit from Real Madrid, finally hitting the goal trail with three goals in his last two appearances, including the opener in a 2-0 win over Frosinone on Sunday.