Dinamo Zagreb have announced that the midfielder Arijan Ademi has been given a four-year ban from football by Uefa after failing a drugs test.
The Macedonia international tested positive for a banned substance following Dinamo’s 2-1 Champions League victory over Arsenal in September.
Following a hearing at Uefa’s headquarters in Switzerland, it was confirmed that the 24-year-old will be banned until 2019.
“I find it hard to even describe in words how I feel right now,” Ademi said via the club’s official website. “I’m not guilty, I know I did not do any wrong, and I got such a drastic punishment. I feel terrible.
“I would like to thank everyone who has called me in recent days and sent messages, but it’s really hard for me to talk about it, and I pray for understanding.”
Dinamo, who are due to face Arsenal at the Emirates on Tuesday, have said they will support Ademi.
“As a club, we are shocked and extremely, unpleasantly surprised by such a turn of events, and we will do everything we can in these difficult times with Arijan,” read a statement.
