Brazilian striker Gabriel Barbosa, who plays for Flamengo and the national team, has received a two-year suspension for attempted anti-doping fraud.
According to local media reports, the 27-year-old nicknamed ‘Gabigol’ allegedly obstructed an anti-doping test the day prior to a game.
Barbosa, who has represented his country 18 times, refutes the accusations.
“I have never attempted to obstruct or defraud any test, and I trust that I will be cleared by the higher court,” he said in a post on X.
“Since the beginning of my career as a footballer, I have always followed the rules of the game and never used banned substances. I have been subjected to dozens of tests, all of which have always been negative.
“I am disappointed with the outcome of the judgement, but I will continue co-operating with the sporting authorities and trust that my innocence will be proven and re-established by the higher court.”
Barbosa, who was part of Brazil’s gold medal-winning squad at the 2016 Rio Olympics, can appeal the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
The Brazilian Doping Control Authority said: “The aforementioned athlete was judged by the Anti-Doping Sports Court of Justice and, by a majority vote, it was decided that a violation of the anti-doping rule of attempted fraud had occurred.”
The two-year suspension commences from the date of the infraction, which took place on 8 April 2023.
With the Brazilian Serie A season beginning on 14 April and concluding on 8 December, Barbosa is set to miss the entire season but should be eligible for the commencement of the 2025 campaign.
Flamengo expressed surprise at the ruling and pledged to assist the player in filing an appeal.
“(The club) will assist the athlete in presenting an appeal to CAS, since it understands that there was no fraud, not even an attempt, to justify the punishment applied,” they said in a statement.