Flamengo’s international forward, Gabriel Barbosa, received a two-year suspension on Monday for attempted fraud during a doping test, according to a Brazilian sports court.
Gabigol, the 27-year-old Brazilian player, reportedly did not cooperate during an unannounced doping test at the club’s headquarters in Rio de Janeiro.
The sanction, subject to appeal, has been retroactively applied from April 8 of the previous year, coinciding with the date of the incident.
Local media reported that he did not adhere to the schedule, showed disrespect towards the doping officers, and refused to follow their instructions.
“The athlete in question was judged today by the Full Court of Sports Anti-Doping and, by a majority decision, was found to have committed a violation of the anti-doping fraud rule,” the court announced in a statement to AFP.
Gabigol responded on social media, asserting, “I never attempted to obstruct or deceive any test.”
He expressed his belief in being exonerated by the highest court.
Flamengo declared its support for the player and its intention to aid in his appeal, stating, “there was no fraud involved.”
According to the charges, Gabigol’s teammates completed their tests in the morning, while he disregarded a summons and only appeared after lunchtime.
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He is said to have become agitated when an officer accompanied him to the restroom upon his arrival for testing.
Moreover, he allegedly failed to follow the protocol for sample collection.
Gabigol, a pivotal figure in Flamengo’s 2019 domestic league and Copa Libertadores victories, has consistently refuted accusations of attempting to manipulate the test.
“The Flamengo player has verified that the test was conducted and yielded a negative result,” his attorney stated in December when the allegations emerged.
Given this information, the attorney argued, “there is nothing that could taint or breach the protocol.”
Gabigol experienced less successful periods with Portugal’s Benfica and Italy’s Inter Milan.
