2022: World Cup winner, 2023: suspended for doping
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Reading Time: 2min | Fri. 20.10.23. | 18:42
Papu Gomez gets a two-year ban
Life is a rollercoaster. It only takes a second to go from top to bottom, from joy to infamy. And Alejandro 'Papu' Gomez's career is now down in the dumps. The 35-year-old attacking midfielder, regarded as one of the most creative Argentinean players in the past decade, has been suspended for two years for doping.
The Argentine World Cup winner and former Sevilla midfielder is facing a ban that may as well spell the end his football career. He tested positive for a banned substance, B2-adrenergic, similar to salbutamol, another medicine deemed illegal for athletes. The positive result came after he took a children's medicine without consulting Sevilla's doctors when he felt unwell last November. After transferring to Monza in Serie A following the World Cup, Gomez made only two appearances for the club. This doping violation will have serious consequences for his career.
While he can appeal the decision, it is unlikely to be reversed. This ban comes at a time when reports suggest that Gomez had a falling out with some members of the Argentine national team, which has led to his exclusion from the squad by coach Lionel Scaloni. The former Atalanta star only has a one-year deal with Monza, and this contract will likely be terminated in the coming days if his appeal fails. He previously returned to Italy and turned down an offer to play in the Saudi Pro League due to family considerations. It's all looking like a moot point now - because Gomez will have all the time in the world to spend with his wife and kids now.
🚨🚨| BREAKING: Anti-doping authorities have informed Papu Gómez that he has been suspended for two years. The former Sevilla player tested positive for a prohibited substance in a test that was carried out in November 2022, days before the World Cup. 🇦🇷❌
— CentreGoals. (@centregoals) October 20, 2023
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Gomez had a career that took him from Arsenal de Sarandí in Buenos Aires to various clubs in Europe, including Catania, Metalist Kharkiv, Atalanta (where he played over 200 games), Sevilla, and finally Monza. He also earned 17 caps for the Argentine national team, scoring three goals, including two in the 2021 Copa America, which Argentina won. He's had a successful career, winning six titles, with the last year's triumph in Qatar being the most significant achievement.
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