Blasi receives six-month drug ban

ROME (Reuters) -- Parma midfielder Manuele Blasi was banned for six months by the disciplinary committee of the Italian Football League on Friday after testing positive for the performance-enhancing drug nandrolone.

The 23-year-old has been suspended since October, having failed a drugs test after Parma's match against Perugia on September 14.

The ban, which is backdated to the beginning of his suspension, will keep him out of action until April 17.

Blasi is the third Serie A player this season to be banned for taking performance-enhancing drugs.

Last month, Inter Milan striker Mohamed Kallon and Perugia forward Al Saadi Gaddafi received bans of eight and three months respectively after testing positive for nandrolone.

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