Flamengo and Brazil striker Gabriel Barbosa has been suspended for 2 years for tried anti-doping fraud.
Native media have reported that the 27-year-old, referred to as ‘Gabigol’, made it tough to hold out an anti-doping check the day earlier than a recreation.
Barbosa, who has performed 18 occasions for his nation, denies the allegations.
“I’ve by no means tried to impede or defraud any check, and I belief that I will likely be cleared by the upper court docket,” he mentioned in a publish on X.
“Because the starting of my profession as a footballer, I’ve all the time adopted the principles of the sport and by no means used banned substances. I’ve been subjected to dozens of exams, all of which have all the time been unfavourable.
“I’m disenchanted with the result of the judgement, however I’ll proceed co-operating with the sporting authorities and belief that my innocence will likely be confirmed and re-established by the upper court docket.”
Barbosa, who was a part of Brazil’s gold medal-winning squad on the 2016 Rio Olympics, can enchantment the choice to the Court docket of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
The Brazilian Doping Management Authority mentioned: “The aforementioned athlete was judged by the Anti-Doping Sports activities Court docket of Justice and, by a majority vote, it was determined {that a} violation of the anti-doping rule of tried fraud had occurred.”
The 2-year ban begins from the date of violation, which occurred on 8 April 2023.
The Brazilian Serie A season begins on 14 April and runs till 8 December which means Barbosa will miss the total season, however ought to be out there for the beginning of the 2025 marketing campaign.
Flamengo mentioned they have been shocked by the decision and would assist the participant with an enchantment.
“(The membership) will help the athlete in presenting an enchantment to CAS, because it understands that there was no fraud, not even an try, to justify the punishment utilized,” they mentioned in a press release.
Barbosa signed for Flamengo on a everlasting deal in 2020 after a profitable mortgage spell from Inter Milan, the place he solely performed 9 occasions in 4 years.
The ahead scored the profitable objective within the 2022 Copa Libertadores last – South America’s model of the Champions League – in a 1-0 win over fellow Brazilian aspect Athletico Paranaense.
Barbosa made his Brazil debut in a 2-0 pleasant win over Panama in Could 2016 and has scored 5 worldwide targets.
