The two players – who at the time on December 1 2007 were both at Brescia – turned up 25 minutes late to a routine test and were originally suspended for two weeks before the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) intervened last week.

WADA took the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and insisted the players had violated Article 2.3 of its code, which is defined as “refusing or failing without compelling justification to submit to sample collection after notification as authorised in applicable antidoping rules or otherwise evading sample collection.”

The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) has announced plans to stage an appeal and FIFA have reportedly pledged their support.

They hope to take the matter back to the CAS by presenting new evidence omitted from the original hearing.

These include testimony from teammates and club officials who saw the players were kept in the locker room for a post-match team talk by President Gino Corioni and Coach Serse Cosmi.

FIGC President Giancarlo Abete sent a letter to FIFA President Sepp Blatter this week and it is reported he received a response showing full support for this action.