Flamengo and Brazil ahead Gabriel Barbosa has been suspended for 2 years for tried anti-doping fraud.
Native media reported that the 27-year-old, referred to as “Gabigol”, failed an anti-doping take a look at the day earlier than a match.
Barbosa, who has performed 18 instances for his nation, denies the allegations.
“I’ve by no means tried to impede or defraud any proof, and I belief that I will probably be cleared by the superior court docket,” he mentioned in a publish on X.
“From the start of my profession as a footballer, I’ve all the time adopted the principles of the sport and have by no means used prohibited substances. I’ve been subjected to dozens of exams, that are all the time destructive.
“I’m dissatisfied by the end result of the judgment, however I’ll proceed to cooperate with the sports activities authorities and belief that my innocence will probably be confirmed and restored by the upper court docket.”
Barbosa, who was a part of Brazil's gold medal-winning staff on the 2016 Rio Olympics, can attraction the choice to the Courtroom of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
The Brazilian Doping Management Authority mentioned: “The athlete talked about above was judged by the Sports activities Anti-Doping Courtroom of Justice and, by a majority vote, it was determined that an anti-doping rule violation of tried fraud had occurred.”
The 2-year ban begins on the date of the violation, which occurred on April 8, 2023.
The Brazilian Serie A season begins on April 14 and runs till December 8 that means Barbosa will miss the total season however needs to be out there for the beginning of the 2025 marketing campaign.
Flamengo mentioned they have been shocked by the decision and can assist the participant with an attraction.
“(The membership) will help the athlete in submitting an attraction to the 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 performed simply 9 instances in 4 years.
The striker scored the successful objective within the closing of the 2022 Copa Libertadores – the South American model of the Champions League – in a 1-0 win over fellow Brazilian Athletico Paranaense.
Barbosa made his Brazil debut in a 2-0 pleasant win over Panama in Might 2016 and scored 5 worldwide objectives.
