ENGLAND: SOCCER - ADRIAN MUTU OF THE ENGLISH PREMIERSHIP FOOTBALL CLUB CHELSEA, TESTS POSITIVE FOR THE DRUG COCAINE.

Record ID: 251236

  • Title: ENGLAND: SOCCER - ADRIAN MUTU OF THE ENGLISH PREMIERSHIP FOOTBALL CLUB CHELSEA, TESTS POSITIVE FOR THE DRUG COCAINE.
  • Date: 18th October 2004
  • Summary: HARLINGTON, LONDON, UK (FILE AUGUST 2003) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. CLAUDIO RANIERI WITH ADRIAN MUTU, WITH MUTU'S NUMBER SEVEN SHIRT 2. PAN FROM MUTU TO RANIERI 3. MUTU IS ASKED WHY HE WANTED TO COME TO CHELSEA (SOUNDBITE) (Romanian): " It's a prestgious club that wants to win, and for a player who wants to make a name for himself in the
  • Embargoed: 2nd November 2004 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: LONDON, UK
  • City:
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Reuters ID: LVAE1ICZVZL5SKYMMK939LIFD9BR
  • Story Text: Chelsea striker Adrian Mutu is protesting his
    innocence after British media reports that he had tested
    positive for cocaine.



    Chelsea striker Adrian Mutu is protesting his
    innocence, his agent said on Monday (October 18), after
    British media reports that he had tested positive for
    drugs.

    The Romania international was reported to have tested
    positive for cocaine. His agent Gheorghe Popescu told
    Reuters: "(Mutu) only said 'it's not possible' and nothing
    else'".

    Speaking later on Romanian radio station Radio Total,
    Popescu said: "Of course, Mutu is scared. His fate and his
    future are threatened."
    Popescu then flew to London with Victor Becali, who
    also acts for the player, to meet Chelsea coach Jose
    Mourinho.

    "He has taken the news very bad. He's shocked but that
    is normal, it is normal to be shocked," Popescu said on
    arriving at Heathrow airport.

    Asked if Mutu was protesting his innocence, Popescu
    said: "Of course."
    Popescu said Mutu had confirmed that a dope test had
    taken place at Chelsea's training camp in early October and
    said neither the club nor the British anti-doping agency
    had handed him the results.

    "The sole source to confirm or deny the allegations is
    Chelsea," Popescu said. "And this is what we're trying to
    do."
    Chelsea have not commented on the allegations. They
    suffered their first defeat of the season away at
    Manchester City on Saturday and are currently without
    striker Didier Drogba, who is sidelined by injury.

    The 25-year-old Mutu has endured a torrid time at
    Stamford Bridge where he has fallen out with Mourinho after
    playing for Romania against club advice. After returning to London
    from Bucharest last week Mutu
    was handed a hefty fine for making critical comments about
    his club coach.

    When asked last week when Mutu, who is still officially
    listed as injured by Chelsea despite appearing for his
    country, would play again, Mourinho said: "At this moment I
    see that day as a long way off."
    Mutu has been involved in several other incidents
    recently, including losing his driving licence for refusing
    to present his identity papers to police before Romania's
    World Cup qualifier against Finland.

    With leading striker Didier Drogba currently sidelined
    through injury, Mutu's absence

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