Former Arsenal wideman Samir Nasri will sign for West Ham when the transfer window officially opens, committing to the club for six months with an option for a further two years.
Nasri has been linked with West Ham for a while now and while it was initially claimed he was ‘demanding’ £100kpw to sign, the club and his ‘people’ have come to an agreement in the region of £72.6kpw (€350k-per-month).
The deal is for an initial six-month period but also comes with an option for a further two years should the first period go to plan.
Nasri has been banned since 22 February 2018 when he was given an initial six-month ban for breaching WADA rules in December 2016.
On 1 August, his ban was increased by an extra 12 months after a successful UEFA appeal on the grounds the original ban was ‘insufficient’.
Nasri’s ban was backdated to July 2017, even though he played after that date.
Why was he banned in the first place?
by Nia Griffiths
Samir Nasri initially received a six-month ban after visiting Drip Doctors in Los Angeles on Boxing Day 2016.
Nasri was slapped with a six-month ban after violating the World Anti-Doping Code and Uefa’s anti-doping regulations.
“The UEFA Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body (CEDB) has rendered its decision following disciplinary proceedings opened on 6 March 2017 against the player Samir Nasri for violation of the UEFA Anti-Doping Regulations,” Uefa confirmed, reported L’Equipe at the time.
“The player Samir Nasri has been found guilty for using a prohibited method in accordance with sub-section M2, par. 2 of the WADA Prohibited List.
“In this context, the CEDB has decided to suspend Samir Nasri for six (6) months for violation of the World Anti-doping Code and the UEFA Anti-doping Regulations.
“This decision was taken on 22 February and is open to appeal.”
The reason Nasri’s little visit from Drip Doctors was taken so seriously by Uefa is because the World Anti-Doping Agency prohibit this treatment in quantities of more than 50 millilitres per six-hour period.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport rejected the ex-Arsenal winger’s appeal against the investigation in January, which allowed Uefa to continue looking into the case.
Samir Nasri hasn't looked himself tonight. Might need another trip to the Drip Doctors. pic.twitter.com/Dlccev6fkV
— Paddy Power (@paddypower) March 14, 2017
According to the Guardian, Nasri received 500 millilitres of hydration in the form of sterile water containing micronutrient components on December 26, 2016, while on holiday.
Nasri apparently invited Drip Doctors’ co-founder Jamila Sozahdah to his hotel room in L.A. because he was feeling ill and vomiting.