Cagliari forward Joao Pedro facing 4-year doping ban

Milan - Serie A club Cagliari said Tuesday they were "stunned" after Italian anti-doping officials requested a four-year ban be imposed on forward Joao Pedro for failing a drugs test.

The Brazilian tested positive for the banned diuretic hydrochlorothiazide following two games -- against Sassuolo on February 11 and again against Chievo on February 17.

The 26-year-old's case will be heard before a court of Italy's national anti-doping organisation NADO on May 16.

In a statement the Sardinian club expressed their "astonishment at the length of the request".

"The club remains firmly convinced of Joao Pedro's good faith and personal and sporting loyalty," the statement added.

Joao Pedro insists he unwittingly consumed contaminated food supplements, and his lawyers remain confident he will be cleared.

A scorer of six goals this season, he has been suspended indefinitely by the club.

He would be the second Serie A player this season to be banned for failing a doping test.

Benevento captain Fabio Lucioni was banned for a year in January for doping after the steroid clostebol was found in a sample taken after his side lost 1-0 to Torino in September.

Benevento team doctor Walter Giorgione was banned for four years for administering the steroid to Lucioni in a spray.