Sevilla defender Sergio Sanchez cleared to play

Sevilla says a doctor has cleared defender Sergio Sanchez to play again after a heart condition sidelined him nearly a year ago.

The 24-year-old Sanchez was diagnosed with the condition in January, requiring him to stop all physical activity. He then underwent an operation.

The club said Tuesday that a doctor cleared Sanchez after a recent series of tests. Sanchez will resume training Wednesday but the doctor wants him to be checked again at the end of the season.

Sanchez says his first reaction at the news was to ''cry and hug my family.''

Sanchez was among a string of similar Spanish football cases following the deaths of Sevilla's Antonio Puerta and Espanyol's Daniel Jarque from heart-related problems.