Chivas USA Attempts to Enhance Performance by Signing Goalkeeper Jon Conway, Dealing Defender Burling
Goalkeeper Jon Conway, suspended last year by MLS for 10 games for taking performance enhancing substances, was signed Friday by Chivas USA, the club announced Friday.
In addition, defender Bobby Burling, a Loyola Marymount University product who has played just three games this season because of injury was shipped to the San Jose Earthquakes, who badly need to shore up their defense.
The same could be said for Chivas USA's goalkeeping situation, where back-up Lance Parker has shipped goals at a prodigious rate while filling in for the injured Zach Thornton.
Conway, 32, is a nine-year MLS veteran; the Red Bulls - who had retained his MLS rights despite terminating his contract in June - received a fourth-round 2011 MLS SuperDraft pick in return. Conway, who trained with the Chivas USA for several weeks this season, is eligible to play Sunday against FC Dallas.
Chivas USA received a third-round draft pick next year for the 24-year-old Burling.
Conway and defender Jeff Parke had tested positive for androstatriendione (ATD) and boldenone metabolites - performance enhancing substances banned by MLS.
About 100 Percent Soccer
Sportswriter Nick Green has written the 100 Percent Soccer column since 2005 for the Daily News, Daily Breeze and other Los Angeles area newspapers. The blog of the same name began in 2007. A native of England, he began writing about soccer in the mid-1980s and in 2000 permanently exchanged a seat in the stands for one in the press box. He lives six miles from Carson's Home Depot Center, home of the Los Angeles Galaxy, Chivas USA and the training headquarters for U.S. Soccer and is married to a long-suffering soccer widow. Join Nick on FaceBook and follow him on Twitter.
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