Serie A

Benevento captain risks 4-year ban after failing drugs test

Published Sep. 22, 2017 2:13 p.m. ET

BENEVENTO, Italy (AP) Benevento captain Fabio Lucioni risks a four-year ban from soccer after testing positive for a banned substance.

Lucioni was provisionally suspended by Italy's national anti-doping organization on Friday after the steroid clostebol was found in a sample taken after Benevento's 1-0 loss to Torino on Sept. 10.

''While waiting for all the verifications of the matter to be carried out, I'll limit myself to saying that I have only followed the prescriptions of Benevento's club doctor and that I have only taken, in complete good faith, medicines indicated by him,'' Lucioni told Italian news agency Ansa.

The 29-year-old Lucioni faces a suspension of one to four years.

Lucioni joined Benevento in 2014 and the defender helped the team move from the third division up into Serie A for the first time.

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