Reggina captain Mozart has been suspended after a positive drugs test.
Italian football authorities have suspended Reggina captain Mozart after he tested positive for a banned substance.According to the Italian Olympic Committee, the Brazilian midfielder tested positive for Betamethasone following the club's Serie A clash with Milan last month.
Mozart has been suspended with immediate effect - pending a disciplinary committee hearing - and the suspension comes before Reggina host Serie A leaders Juventus at the Oreste Granillo.
Reggina have responded to the news by stating that the midfielder's positive test was for his use of an insect-bite cream he had applied to his three-year-old daughter, as Betamethasone is found in a number of products for skin treatment.
"Reggina underline that their captain (Mozart), for which has been found the presence of Betametasone, is not directly responsible," read a statement on Reggina's official website.
"The club consider the decision to stop him playing as absolutely grave because this penalizes a player, who has always been absolutely professional.
"The reason is due to the use of a cream against insect punctures he used for his three-year-old daughter."
Mozart's positive test was followed by the news that five Serie B players also tested positive for banned substances.
Vicenza's Julien Rantier, Arezzo's Daniele Amerini, Cesena's Lorenzo Rossetti, Crotone's Daniele Vantaggiato and Catanzaro's Tommaso Dei were suspended for similar offences on Friday.
