editorial comment Accurate title for once. Mandatory testing based on prohibition is what has "destroyed" him. Not the substance. Maybe it's time to start a league that does not test for recreational drugs. paraphernalia thinks there might be some good talents there....

LONDON, England -- Chelsea's Romanian striker Adrian Mutu has failed a drug test his agent Gica Popescu confirmed on Monday and could face a ban of up two years from domestic and international soccer.

Popescu said: "Mutu is destroyed. I told him to assume full responsibility for his actions but he seemed not to understand what it really means.

"We'll discuss his future after we see what Chelsea decide."

Popescu and fellow agent Victor Becali arrived in England on Monday for talks with Chelsea officials.

Popescu told Reuters: "Chelsea confirmed to me that Mutu had tested positive but did not reveal the substance. I realised that it concerned a drug, not a doping substance.

"Chelsea said that the (drug) would not be disclosed under a confidentiality clause."

Popescu added: "I told him not to ask for the second sample so as not to prolong his agony. I told him that almost always the second sample confirms the first sample. He seemed not to understand what I told him."

Professional Footballers' Association chief executive Gordon Taylor said earlier he had spoken to Mutu about the positive test but would not go into details.

Taylor told Sky Sports News he doesn't want people "to jump to conclusions" adding: "There needs to be a proper hearing, second test and then the player's response."

Mutu's backup "B" sample has not yet been analyzed and a player is not considered guilty of a drug violation until both samples are confirmed as positive.

If Mutu's second sample is positive, he could receive a ban from six months to two years.

The Football Association suspended Manchester United's Rio Ferdinand for eight months for missing a drug test last year.

The 25-year-old Mutu, who has lost his place on the team after falling out with coach Jose Mourinho, reportedly tested positive at Chelsea's training ground in September.

News of his failed test was first reported by the Mail on Sunday.

"Things haven't been going very well for him," Taylor said. "There are a number of factors. It's not the peak of his career at the moment. It's a matter of some concern, any action will apply internationally as well."

Mutu joined Chelsea from August 2003 from Parma, part of the spending spree by former manager Claudio Ranieri after Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich bought the club last summer.

Struggled
But he has struggled to make the first team since Mourinho took over this season.

Mutu has scored 10 goals in 38 appearances for Chelsea, but has made only two appearances this season, both as a substitute. His last appearance was in the 0-0 draw with Aston Villa on September 11.

Mutu captained Romania and played the full game in the 1-0 loss to the Czech Republic in a World Cup qualifier on October 9 in Prague.

Mutu is the second Chelsea player to test positive for drugs.

Former goalkeeper Mark Bosnich was banned for nine months by the Football Association in April 2003 for testing positive for cocaine. The Australian claimed he ingested the drug unwittingly in a spiked drink.

Bosnich was fired by Chelsea when the test result came out in early January.

He appealed against his dismissal, but that was rejected by the Premier League in February. Despite his ban ending, Bosnich hasn't played since.

"It's unfortunate that this is a second positive test for Chelsea," Taylor said.

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