UEFA extends ex-Man U star Nasri's ban to 18 months

London [UK], August 2 (ANI): The UEFA, European football's governing body, has extended the suspension period of former Manchester United mid-fielder Samir Nasri from six to eighteen months, following an appeal against the initial sanction.
The 31-year-old was banned for violating UEFA's anti-doping regulations after he received an intravenous drip treatment from a private clinic while he was on holiday in Los Angeles back in December 2016.
The drip treatment was, reportedly, contrary to the rules of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
Giving out the details of the suspension, UEFA's official statement said that the suspension started running from July 1, 2017, and the player will be allowed to get back to the team only after November 1, 2018.
"The player Samir Nasri is suspended for eighteen [18] months. This suspension will start running on 1 July 2017," the statement read.
"The player Samir Nasri is allowed to return to training, with any football club starting from 1 November 2018," it added.
The midfielder had requested the UEFA to give him a backdated Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) which would have helped him escape the punishment, but the plea was rejected by the association.
According to the WADA rule, there is a 50-millilitre infusion limit per six-hour period for active athletes but it was alleged that Nasri had received 500 millilitres of hydration in the form of sterile water containing micronutrient components.
Nasri, who is a two-time Premier League winner and appeared in over 300 games for Arsenal and Manchester City, is currently not associated with any of the clubs. (ANI)