Soccer: Davids stunned after failed drugs test

Juventus midfielder Edgar Davids was ‘‘shocked’’ to learn he had failed a routine drugs test.

The Turin club were told yesterday by the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) that the Dutch midfielder had produced a ‘‘non-negative’’ sample following a Serie A match against Udinese on March 4.

‘‘I was so shocked to read the news,’’ said Davids.

‘‘I have never taken any illegal substances in my life. My body is important it is the house of my soul. I look after myself.

‘‘After the game I took a routine test. In the past I have taken this test many times and many times in this season, too.’’

The news follows Lazio defender Fernando Couto’s second failed test, announced on Saturday, which revealed he had excess nandrolone in his system.

‘‘It has been said there was a trace (of nandrolone) found in my test but this is not confirmed by CONI,’’ said Davids.

‘‘But in any case everybody seems pretty sure it is nandrolone.

‘‘It is very hard for the medical staff working with me because even when I am ill I never take any remedies. I have never even taken the vaccine for flu.

‘‘I do not like other athletes to take any of these banned substances. I believe in the spirit of fair play.

‘‘I feel sorry for Juventus, my team-mates and the game of football. At the moment I cannot give any information but if we know anything we will tell you very quick.

‘‘Finally I want to say again that I have never used any doping. I condemn it.’’

Speculation that the 28-year-old had failed a test began on Saturday night after news was leaked that a Serie A player had returned a positive sample.

Several newspapers in Italy named Davids as the man thought to have failed the post-match test.

Juventus president Vittorio Chiusano is angry that news was leaked on Saturday before an official announcement from either the club, CONI or the Italian Football Association.

‘‘We are very upset that this came out at a delicate time of the season like this,’’ said Chiusano.

‘‘The test of Davids should have been secret.

‘‘We are to wait for the results of a second test. We do not understand why the first one was in March, but we had to wait until April for the results.

‘‘The positive sample of Davids was revealed before an official announcement. We are going to enquire with the federal prosecutor of Rome about that.’’