FIFA has handedout long bans for the two players who failed drug tests in the 2003 World Youth Championship at the start of December.
Egyptian Amir Azmy and German Alexander Walke were handed 14 and seven-month bans respectively after the FIFA Disciplinary Committee reviewed their cases at a meeting in Zurich.
Azmy tested positive for the anabolic agent nandrolone following his country’s match with Japan on December 5 in Dubai and was suspended until February 8, 2005. He was also fined 15,000 Swiss francs.
Walke, who tested positive for tetrahydrocannabinole (carboxy-THC), a metabolite of cannabis, after his country’s match with the U.S. on December 2, was fined 10,000 Swiss francs and suspended until July 8 2004.
In a statement, FIFA said: “In each case, the suspension covers all types of matches including domestic, international, friendly and official fixtures.
“An appeal may be lodged against these decisions to the FIFA Appeal Committee within three days of receipt of the reasoned decision to be sent subsequently.’