Benfica to appeal Assis ban
Afp, Lisbon
Portuguese giants Benfica are to appeal the one-year doping ban imposed Thursday on midfielder Nuno Assis by the Swiss-based Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). Benfica vice-president Silvio Cervan told a press conference: "We have started preparing a request for the decision to be annulled by the Swiss federal court." The 28-year-old player was banned by the Professional Football League for six months after he tested positive for the steriod nandrolene following Benfica's 1-0 win over Maritimo in a Portuguese league game in December 2005. Assis successfully appealed the ban prompting the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) to request that CAS impose a two-year ban. CAS on Thursday suspended the player for one year. Assis would be eligible to play again on July 26.
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