Atletico Madrid remain unable to register new players before the start of next season after their appeal against a transfer ban was rejected by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on Thursday.
World football governing body FIFA imposed a one-year ban on Atletico as punishment for breaking rules relating to the transfer of under-age players from abroad.
Atletico succeeded in having a fine reduced from 900,000 Swiss francs (930,000 dollars) to 550,000 francs but remain unable to register new players until January 2018.
Along with hindering coach Diego Simeone's preparations for the next campaign, the move may also mean Atletico decide against selling star French forward Antoine Griezmann this summer.
