FLORENCE, Italy (AP) — Romania striker Adrian Mutu’s troubled career has apparently taken another negative turn with a positive doping test.

The Italian Olympic Committee said yesterday that traces of Sibutramina, a stimulant that counters hunger, were discovered in the Fiorentina striker’s system following a Serie A game with Bari on Jan 10.

The 31-year-old Mutu is already facing the prospect of having to pay euro17 million (US$24 million) compensation after being fired by former club Chelsea for using cocaine. Another doping offense could result in a ban of up to four years.

After struggling for months, Mutu had just started to regain his form, scoring five goals this month — including one in the game against Bari.

The Swiss Federal Court is nearing a ruling on Mutu’s appeal against the Court of Arbitration for Sport, which said he must pay Chelsea compensation.

CAS ruled in July that FIFA was right to award Chelsea compensation because Mutu breached his contract in 2004.

Chelsea fired Mutu for failing a drug test, then got nothing when he served a seven-month ban and rebuilt his career in Italy. Mutu joined Juventus as a free agent and then was sold after one season for euro8 million (US$11 million) to Serie A rival Fiorentina.

Mutu has enjoyed the most successful period of his career at the Florence club.