Former Barcelona star Josep Guardiola has been sentenced to serve seven months in jail and has been fined €2,000 by a court in Brescia, Italy after testing positive for the banned substance nandrolene back in autumn 2002 following a first division game between Piacenza and Lazio.

Guardiola, who was in court to hear the sentence, said that it was unfair, and denied ever having taken nandrolene. "I´m going to appeal against the sentence, and in the end I shall show that I´m right and prove my innocence."

This is the first time a case of this type has been tried in Italy following the introduction of anti-doping legislation in 2000.

The Spanish midfielder is currently playing in Qatar, having left Italy following spells with Piacenza and Lazio.