Benevento blame captain Lucioni's failed doping test on cream
Serie A newcomers Benevento have blamed a cream after their captain Fabio Lucioni failed a drug test.
Benevento president Oreste Vigorito has claimed that a cream used to treat a wound caused the club's captain Fabio Lucioni to fail a drugs test.
The 29-year-old returned a positive sample for banned anabolic steroid clostebol following his side's 1-0 Serie A defeat to Torino on September 10 and faces a lengthy ban.
However, the club have protested their player's innocence, saying Lucioni was using a medically prescribed ointment.
"The blame lies with a cream to heal a wound," Vigorito told Sky Sport Italia.
"You can't talk about doping. After a graze in training, the doctor prescribed him the cream that is normally sold in a chemist and thus can't be the basis of a doping charge.
"When you talk about these things, you have to understand if they really are mistakes.
"Here's simply a guy who has followed a medical prescription. However, we'll accept the ruling, like we've always done."
Get FourFourTwo Newsletter
The best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.
Thank you for reading 5 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1