Italy's National Anti-Doping Tribunal today handed Mutu a nine-month ban after he tested positive for sibutramine in January, ruling him out until the end of October.

"ACF Fiorentina, following the nine-month suspension imposed by the National Anti-Doping Tribunal on Adrian Mutu, reiterates its support for the players, as demonstrated throughout this period, starting in January," said a club statement.

"The club also notes that, while it always hoped for a shorter ban, the outcome underlines the validity of the defence presented as it has allowed Mutu to avoid a two-year ban, and also to receive a ban three months shorter than that requested by the prosecutor, who asked for a period of one year."

Mutu failed two drugs tests in January, the first following the game against Bari on January 10 and the second against Lazio on January 20 in the Italian Cup.

He has been suspended since January 29, meaning he will be eligible again after October 29.

While the ban is far from the worst outcome for Mutu, it nevertheless represents another stain on what has become a troubled career.

The problems began in 2004 when the forward, one year into his Chelsea career after a £15.8 million move from Parma, tested positive for cocaine.

He received a seven-month ban from football, but Chelsea took a harsh stance on the forward and sacked him before then suing him to recover the money they paid to sign him.

Mutu signed for Juventus once he was able to play again, but the incident has dogged him ever since as FIFA ordered him to pay £15million to Chelsea, and his appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport against the fine failed. Mutu is currently pursuing another appeal.

While Mutu had no defence when charged with cocaine use, this time the Romania international told prosecutors the traces of sibutramine found in his tests were the result of slimming tablets given to him by his mother.

Today, the 31-year-old reacted angrily to the ruling.

"I feel this is a harsh punishment,'' he said. "It seems too much. I expected less because, yes, the mistake was made, it's right to pay, but not so much.

"I would like to add that I am sorry for having left Fiorentina without my services for the next few months, both for the club and for the fans."

Mutu will certainly be a big miss for Fiorentina, as he has scored 50 goals in 91 appearances for the club since joining after only one disappointing year with Juve, effectively rebuilding his career in Florence following the previous ban.

There had been speculation linking him with a move away from the Viola this summer, but that now seems unlikely given the ban.

Mutu still has the option of appealing against today's ruling.