Portugal's international goalkeeper Joaquim Silva has been hit with an indefinite national and international ban by football authorities here after failing a 'B' test for the banned anabolic steroid nandrolone.
The 26-year-old Sporting Braga player has 13 international caps to his name but may now miss the World Cup finals in Japan and South Korea this summer.
Silva has always denied the charge saying: "I'm innocent, I've never taken anything."
But he now awaits a final decision on the ban from soccer authorities here.
Portugal coach Antonio Oliveira played Silva in the midweek friendly in Barcelona against Spain.
The nandrolone 'A' test was taken last October 28 after a Portuguese league tie and was returned positive, as was the 'B' test on January 31.