Portuguese international defender Rui Jorge appears unlikely to represent Portugal at EURO 2004 after the Portuguese Football Federation announced that they were suspending him following a B-sample confirmed a positive drug test.

Rui Jorge Sousa Dias Oliveira, who plays for Sporting Lisbon, tested positive for Pulmicort, a drug used to treat asthma, in February.

After receiving the results of the B-sample, which confirmed the original test findings, federation vice-president Amandio Carvalho stated: “The player has been suspended as a precautionary measure.”

“(We have) already informed Sporting. We have also sent all the documentation to the League (professional football) and at present it is up to the Disciplinary Commission to conduct an enquiry and decide if there is need for an actual suspension.’