Adrian Mutu has been ordered to pay former club Chelsea over 17million euros after losing his final appeal in a legal battle which has lasted over five years, the Swiss Federal Court announced.
The court confirmed on Monday that they have upheld the decision made by FIFA and the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Mutu was sacked by the Barclays Premier League club in September 2004 after testing positive for cocaine.
The Romania international received a seven-month ban from football, but Chelsea took a firm stance on the forward and sacked him before then suing him to recover the money they paid to sign him.
Mutu rebuilt his career first at Juventus and then at Fiorentina once he was able to play again, but the incident has dogged him ever since as FIFA ordered him to pay 17million euros to Chelsea, and his appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport against the fine failed.
He was given a glimmer of hope when the Swiss Federal Court temporarily suspended the fine, but they have now decided the 31-year-old must pay the full amount plus interest.
In a statement they said: "In a ruling on June 10, 2010, the Swiss Federal Court rejected the appeal formed by Adrian Mutu against the decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
"The CAS ordered the Romanian professional footballer to pay a sum superior to 17million euros to his former employer, Chelsea Football Club Limited (Chelsea)."
