Brazilian striker Gabriel Barbosa has been handed a two-year suspension by the country's Anti-Doping Sports Court of Justice following a doping fraud investigation. The decision, reached by a narrow 5-4 vote, will see Barbosa sidelined until April 2025.
The suspension stems from an incident on April 8, 2023, when Barbosa displayed erratic behavior during a surprise doping test conducted one day before Flamengo's Rio de Janeiro state championship match. Despite initially ignoring anti-doping officers at the club's training ground, Barbosa eventually underwent testing, with his lawyers emphasizing the validity of his subsequent blood test results as proof of his innocence.
Flamengo, Barbosa's club, has vehemently denied any wrongdoing on the player's part, expressing surprise at the court's ruling and pledging support for Barbosa's appeal to the Court for Arbitration of Sport.
Known as 'Gabigol,' the 27-year-old forward has enjoyed a successful career in Brazilian football, earning national acclaim with Flamengo after less successful spells at Inter Milan and Benfica. Barbosa was a key member of Brazil's gold medal-winning squad at the 2016 Rio Olympics before returning to domestic football in Brazil.
Since joining Flamengo in 2019, Barbosa has played a pivotal role in the club's success, contributing to two Copa Libertadores triumphs and two Brazilian league titles. However, his playing time has been limited under the management of former Brazil coach Tite, with Barbosa finding himself on the bench since Tite's appointment last October.
