A derivative of amphetamine, sibutramine has been included on the list of banned substances by the World Anti-doping Agency and is considered dangerous, as it can upset the cardiac pacing. Italian daily, La Republica, quoted by the Mediafax news agency, on Thursday night carried an article explaining that sibutramine can cause euphoria, and for this reason it is used as a substitute of cocaine; the information has been confirmed by Italian biochemist and doping expert Dario D’Ottavio.

This is the second time when the Romanian striker has been involved in drug-related incidents. In 2004, he admitted to cocaine consumption, and was subsequently sacked by British side Chelsea which had paid 22 million euros to hire him from Italian club Parma. Mutu got a seven-month suspension from the English Football Federation, upon which he returned to Italy where he considerably improved on his shows. He was first hired by Juventus, then joined Fiorentina, where he soon became one of the most cherished footballers.

Experts viewed him as one of the best foreign footballers in Italy. Dubbed ‘the Gem’ in Romania, where he was unanimously believed to be the best footballer of the new millennium, Mutu soon made his fans willing to forget his adventures outside the pitch. However, his shows with Romania’s national eleven didn’t always meet expectations, and Mutu came under criticism for shows not as spectacular as with the clubs abroad, and for arrogance.

Furthermore, Mutu has been lately criticised by coach Razvan Lucescu for acts of insubordination. The coach refused to summon Mutu for the national side without further explanations or comments on his character. It seems that in the end the Romanian coach was right as regards Mutu, whose talent on the pitch cannot make up for a bad behaviour.