Mutu suspended over drugs test

Mutu failed a random drugs test at Chelsea's training g round on 1 October. Although the club and the FA refused to confirm the positive test, Gordon Taylor, chief executive of the Professional Footballers' Association, revealed last week that the player had taken cocaine.

But Mutu later denied that, insisting he used an unidentified substance to improve his sexual performance.

In an effort to try and reduce his potential ban he is also understood to have agreed to have counselling sessions with a psychiatrist as part of a rehabilitation programme.

Until the FA charge, Mutu had been available for selection at Chelsea but head coach Jose Mourinho has refused to pick him because of his troubled state of mind.

The club have yet to comment on the matter and, unlike in the case of former goalkeeper Mark Bosnich, when they cancelled his contract, they have not preempted any FA punishment.

Mutu has no future at Chelsea but the club are still torn over whether to sack him. Some directors are keen to recoup some of the £15.8m they paid Parma for him last summer while others are keen to take a strong anti-drugs stance.