Juventus and Netherlands midfielder Edgar Davids has returned another positive finding today after his second urine sample was analysed, the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) confirmed.
The result, confirming the finding of the first test which revealed traces of banned steroid nandrolone in the midfielder's sample, means that the player has a case to answer and that now the matter will be subject to disciplinary procedure.
In previous cases of this nature a player has been suspended pending resolution of the matter.
Davids, who has denied taking any banned substance, tested positive after the match with Udinese in the Italian first division on March 4.
The second sample was originally set to be tested last Tuesday but was postponed when the player won a court ruling in Rome.
However, CONI successfully appealed and the test was rescheduled for Sunday only to be again shelved because of the Italian general election taking place that day. But finally the test went ahead Monday and the result was announced today.
Davids is the biggest name so far implicated by the new anti-doping offensive by CONI.
Earlier this week football investigators demanded a 16-month ban on Lazio's Portuguese defender Fernando Couto for an alleged similar offence. Couto too denies the charges. AFP