Portuguese midfielder Daniel Kenedy was dropped from the World Cup finals squad today when he failed a drugs test.
The 28-year-old uncapped Maritimo star tested positive for an unnamed banned substance on May 14th prior to the squad's departure for their pre-finals training base in Macao.
Kenedy has been replaced by Portuguese football's golden boy and Sporting Lisbon star Hugo Viana, who is currently playing for the Under-21 side at the European Championships in Switzerland.
While the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) would not comment on the substance they revealed on their website that Kenedy had been dropped because their medical department had recommended he be thrown out.
For his part Kenedy told the press in Macao he had been taking a dietary product for 10 days which may have been the cause of his failed test.
"I want to make it clear that I never willingly took a banned product," he said.
"I don't take drugs, I just took a dietary substance as I have the habit of putting on weight.
"All those people who know me realise that I would never take anything that is banned.
"This is a real injustice. I am really sad," he added.
AFP