Cruzeiro striker Gabriel Barbosa has successfully challenged a 24-month ban handed down for alleged anti-doping fraud, a decision that was overturned by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on Friday.
Barbosa, widely recognised as Gabigol, faced a two-year suspension from a Brazilian sports tribunal in March 2024, stemming from an incident on April 8, 2023, when he was still with Flamengo.
The forward maintained his innocence against the charges, and Flamengo pledged their support for his appeal to CAS.
The ruling body concluded that while Barbosa’s actions were decidedly uncooperative, they did not amount to ‘tampering’ as defined by the World Anti-Doping Code.
The 28-year-old player was alleged to have obstructed an anti-doping test, which occurred the day before a match in the Rio de Janeiro state league, during which he was tested hours after his fellow players, according to local media reports.
In April 2024, CAS allowed Barbosa to resume playing while the appeal was being deliberated.
He is currently signed with Cruzeiro, competing in Brazil’s Serie A, having departed Flamengo at the end of last year.
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
Fanpage: SportArena.com.au.
LiveScore – Live Sports Results & Odds.
