Luis Suarez four-month playing ban for biting Giorgio Chiellini upheld... but Barcelona star is CLEARED to train

• Suarez was banned from all football-related activity on July 1 for biting the Italy defender at the World Cup
• Barcelona star can make his debut in a friendly against Leon on Monday if fit
• Uruguayan can also play in upcoming international friendlies in September and October against Japan, Korea and Saudi Arabia
• Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) heard case in Lausanne, Switzerland
• Former Liverpool striker moved to Barcelona for £75million in July 
• Barcelona have been unable to unveil the 27-year-old at the Nou Camp
• Suarez hired a personal trainer to help him with his fitness during the ban 
• He has received long-term bans four times - three times for biting and once for racially abusing Patrice Evra 

Luis Suarez's four-month ban from football for biting Giorgio Chiellini has been upheld by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne, but the Barcelona star has been cleared to train with his new club.

The decision means Suarez will be able to make his Barcelona debut on Monday in the Joan Gamper Trophy friendly against Liga MX side Leon at the Nou Camp if deemed fit enough.

The Uruguayan forward was banned from all football activity on July 1 for the incident during the World Cup group stage match against Italy on June 24 in Natal. 

The 'football activity' aspect of the ban, apart from playing, has been removed, allowing Suarez to be formally unveiled.

CAS says FIFA's sanctions against Suarez are 'generally proportionate to the offence committed.' 

The 27-year-old will take part in a double training session with Barcelona on Thursday, at 09.30 and 18.30 local time. 

Suarez cannot play for Barcelona until October 26, and he remains banned for Uruguay's next eight competitive matches.

However, the court's panel has ruled that the ban on any soccer-related activity is 'excessive.' 

The court said in a statement: 'The 4-month suspension will apply to official matches only and no longer to other football-related activities (such as training, promotional activities and administrative matters).' 

Banning Suarez from training would have meant the ban 'would still have an impact on his activity after the end of the suspension,' the panel ruled.

The then-Liverpool star transferred to Barcelona for £75million after receiving the ban, but has since been unable to be unveiled or train with the team. 

Suarez, who has received long-term bans three times previously – twice for biting and once for racially abusing Patrice Evra – has been keeping up his fitness with a personal trainer ahead of his return.

FACT

2010: November - At Ajax, banned for seven matches after being found guilty of biting PSV Eindhoven's Otman Bakkal.

2011: January 28 - Liverpool agree a deal worth up to £22.8million with Ajax for Suarez.

2011: December 7 - Charged with improper conduct following a gesture to fans as he left the pitch following the 1-0 defeat at Fulham.

2011: December 20 - The FA bans Suarez for eight matches and fines him £40,000 for racially abusing Patrice Evra.

2011: December 28 - Suarez banned for one match and fined £20,000 after admitting improper conduct charge relating to his gesture towards Fulham fans.

2012: February 11 - On his return to the first XI, refuses to shake Evra's hand before going on to score in Liverpool's 2-1 loss to Manchester United.

2013: April 21 - Bites Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic on the arm before going on to score equaliser in 2-2 draw at Anfield. Apologises for his 'inexcusable behaviour' soon after the match.

2013: April 22 - Fined by club and charged by the FA with violent conduct for Ivanovic incident. Pledges to donate money to Hillsborough Family Support Group. Managing director Ian Ayre issues statement saying the club want Suarez to see out his contract, which runs until summer 2016.

2013: April 24 - Handed 10-game ban by an independent regulatory commission for biting Ivanovic, confirmed by the FA

2014: April 27 - Wins the Professional Footballers' Association's Player of the Year award.

2014: June 24 - Footage shows Suarez appearing to bite Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini while playing for Uruguay in a World Cup Group D match.

2014: June 26 - FIFA suspends Suarez for nine international matches and ban him from all football activity for four months. He is also fined 100,000 Swiss francs (just under £66,000) for the Chiellini incident.

2014: July 16 - Suarez completes £75million move to Barcelona.

2014: August 15 - Suarez fails in his appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport to have his four-month playing ban overturned but is cleared to train with Barcelona.