The Spanish anti-doping agency (AEPSAD) has launched an investigation into Manchester City footballer Samir Nasri, who is currently on loan to Sevilla, after pictures emerged on Twitter alleging that he had used a 1 litre hydration drip at a Los Angeles clinic. Intravenous infusions have been included on the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) Prohibited List since 2005, and are prohibited both in and out of competition. Section M2 of the 2016 Prohibited List prohibits ‘Intravenous infusions and/or injections of more than 50 mL per 6 hour period except for those legitimately received in the course of hospital admissions, surgical procedures or clinical investigations’.

AEPSAD said that it had ‘initiated the appropriate steps to clarify what treatment the player Samir Nasri received’ in a statement on Twitter. Tweets and pictures announcing Nasri’s treatment feature on LA clinic Drip Doctors’ Twitter account and Facebook page.

AEPSAD ha iniciado las gestiones oportunas para esclarecer qué tratamiento recibió el jugador Samir Nasri https://t.co/KpqgAyPZ7k

— AEPSAD (@AEPSAD) December 28, 2016

We provided @SamNasri19 a concierge Immunity IV Drip to keep him hydrated & in top health during his busy soccer season with @SevillaFC ?? pic.twitter.com/bfDNeM5vQu

— Drip Doctors (@DripDoctors) December 27, 2016

It appears that Nasri had a US$200 ‘Immunity IV’ 1 litre vitamin drip, advertised here on its internet site. ‘Drip Doctors provided Samir a concierge Immunity IV Drip to help keep him hydrated and in top health during his busy soccer season with Sevilla FC’, read a post on the company’s Facebook page. ‘Thanks for letting us be part of your health and wellness team!’

After initially announcing the treatment on his Twitter page, Nasri deleted all reference to Drip Doctors, after a series of Twitter posts suggested that he had engaged in sexual relations with a clinic employee. Both Nasri and Drip Doctors later clarified that this had been the result of a hack into his Twitter account.

My account got hacked sorry about what happen earlier

— Samir Nasri Official (@SamNasri19) December 28, 2016

@SamNasri19 account has been HACKED and the recent tweets about @dripdoctors are all FALSE, this will be confirmed shortly. Thanks ?

— Drip Doctors (@DripDoctors) December 27, 2016