One of Argentina’s World Cup winners has been hit with a two-year ban for failing a drugs test after allegedly taking his children’s illness syrup during the period preceding the tournament.
Argentine winger Alejandro “Papu” Gomez lifted football’s most coveted prize alongside Lionel Messi and his teammates last December, following a dramatic penalty shootout victory over France in the final.
However, it emerged he had failed a drug test for a banned substance shortly before the start of the World Cup in November 2022.
Gomez and his then-club Sevilla were informed of the failed test several months ago, but the player only received his sanction this week – a ban from playing the sport for two years.
According to Relevothe 35-year-old explained the failure of the test by the fact that he took his children’s sickness syrup without consulting the Sevilla FC doctors, after a bad night’s sleep.
It was judged that this reason was not acceptable for him to avoid a ban.
He must now decide whether to appeal the verdict to try to reduce or overturn his punishment.
The news comes as a blow to Serie A club Monza, who only signed Gomez last month as a free agent.
Gomez’s contract was terminated by Sevilla FC on the last day of the summer transfer window, after two and a half years at the club, where he won the Europa League last season.
Gomez is best known for his time at Atalanta between 2014 and 2021.
The winger made 252 appearances for the club, scoring 59 goals and leading the club to the Champions League for the first time in their history.
He left the Italian club at the start of 2021 after falling out with manager Gian Piero Gasperini.
He looked like he would end his career on a high at Serie A side Monza, but he has made just two substitute appearances since joining the club, and was handed a lengthy suspension.
