Real, Barca offer backing for Guardiola

Leading figures from both Real Madrid and Barcelona offered their support for Pep Guardiola on Friday, following the Spanish international midfielder's positive test for nandrolone.

Guardiola, who played for Barcelona for 11 years, joined Serie A side Brescia in late September and tested positive after a league match against Piacenza on October 21.

The former Barca skipper protested his innocence on Friday, saying he was convinced he would clear his name, and a player held in high regard throughout Spain won strong backing from the country's top two clubs.

Real Madrid captain Hierro, who has played alongside Guardiola in the Spanish national team for most of the last decade, said he felt there was something strange about the timing of his positive test.

"Pep played in the Spanish league for 10 or 11 years as well as in the national team and he passed 30 or 40 doping controls,"2 Hierro told a news conference.

"What a coincidence that just when he arrives in Italy he tests positive in the first control. There's something strange about that."

"I believe in his innocence and in his honesty as a sportsman and as far as I'm concerned he's completely free of suspicion."

Guardiola's former Barcelona team mate Luis Figo echoed those sentiments.

"2After an entire career as a footballer you're not going to need to take something at the age of 30," Figo said. "It's strange."

Guardiola's positive test followed that of Dutch defender Jaap Stam last week. Last season, nine players in Italy's top two divisions tested positive for nandrolone.

"You have to look at why this is happening in Italy and why the majority of cases involve foreigners," Figo added.

Barcelona's Brazilian forward Rivaldo expressed his support for Guardiola, saying: "It's something I can't believe. I'm very clear that Guardiola is innocent."

Barca coach Carles Rexach described the news as "absurd," adding: "There must have been a mistake."