Sassuolo defender suspended for doping

Italian Serie A football side Sassuolo's defender Francesco Acerbi has been suspended after he tested positive.

Acerbi was detected to be positive for hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) in a doping test after the Cagliari-Sassuolo match, Dec 1, reports Xinhua.

The player was sidelined for several months after undergoing a surgery to remove a testicular tumour which had been discovered during a routine medical in July.

hCG is a hormone that can be produced by a cancerous tumour, so it is likely Acerbi will be exonerated following further tests.

The suspension from Serie A duty is only a temporary measure when a more thorough investigation needs to be performed.