The 37-year-old -- who was also fined 4000 euros -- tested positive for nandrolone following a Serie A match between Fiorentina and his then club Lazio in January 2001.

Couto, who is still playing in Serie A with strugglers Parma, fell foul of the Italian anti-doping law which was implemented in 2000 and is one of the strictest in the world, with prison sentences ranging from three months to three years.

The 110-times capped Couto, who has always protested his innocence, was suspended by the sports authorities for 10 months, though that was reduced to four months on appeal.

Couto, who has won the now defunct Cup Winners Cup with Barcelona and Lazio and the UEFA Cup with Parma in 1995, is not the first athlete to be prosecuted for such offences but none have gone to jail.