Samir Nasri faces prospect of four-year drug ban as WADA demands urgent investigation into intravenous therapy

The World Anti-Doping Agency has demanded that an investigation into Nasri be carried out after it emerged last month the player had visited an intravenous therapy clinic in Los Angeles. If found guilty of wrongdoing, the 29-year-old could be banned for up to four years.



Nasri, currently on loan at Sevilla, is under investigation by Spain’s Anti-Doping agency after visiting the Los Angeles intravenous therapy clinic ‘Drip Doctors’ last month and though City are indicating that it is a matter for the Spanish club to deal with, they face being lumbered with a banned player if Spain’s anti-doping authority finds wrongdoing.

A ban would be disastrous on several levels for City, not least because there would be benefits for them of Nasri moving permanently to Sevilla, where he has started ten La Liga games this season.

Privately, Sevilla seem confident that Nasri will not be found guilty of any wrong-doing, despite the LA clinic tweeting on December 27 that it had provided the Frenchman with “a Concierge Immunity IV Drip to keep him hydrated & in top health” during his season with Sevilla.

Intravenous therapy is banned by WADA unless administered in quantities of no more than 50 millilitres per six-hour period, or in cases where the athlete in question has obtained a certificate of special dispensation on medical grounds.