Deco appeals 1-year doping ban at sports court

LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) Former Portugal playmaker Deco has asked sport's highest court to overturn his one-year ban for doping.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport says Deco has appealed to "be cleared of any anti-doping rule violation."

The court says a timetable for the case will be decided within days.

Deco, who retired from playing in August citing injuries, was banned by a Brazilian football tribunal several weeks later.

He had tested positive for a banned diuretic which can hide the presence of other drugs.

Deco, who denies wrongdoing, ended his career with Brazilian club Fluminense. The Brazil-born player represented Portugal at two World Cups, and won the Champions League with Porto and Barcelona before joining Chelsea.