NYON, Switzerland -- Former Manchester City midfielder Samir Nasri has had his doping ban increased to 18 months following an appeal against the original six-month sanction, European football's governing body UEFA has said.
The Frenchman was handed the original suspension in February after UEFA found the 31-year-old "guilty of using a prohibited method in accordance with the WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) prohibited list."
The former France international's lawyer had said Nasri was sanctioned for receiving an intravenous drip treatment at a clinic in Los Angeles in 2016, when he was on loan at Sevilla from City.
"The player Samir Nasri is suspended for eighteen months. This suspension will start running on 1 July 2017," UEFA said in a statement on their website.
"The player Samir Nasri is allowed to return to training, with any football club starting from 1 November 2018."
UEFA said Nasri's amended suspension was a result of negotiations between the player, WADA, the French Anti-Doping Agency and UEFA's Ethics and Disciplinary inspector, who originally believed a two-year suspension was warranted.