Flamengo and Brazil striker Gabriel Barbosa has been suspended for two years for attempted anti-doping fraud.
Local media have reported that the 27-year-old, known as ‘Gabigol’, made it difficult to carry out an anti-doping test the day before a game.
Barbosa, who has played 18 times for his country, denies the allegations.
“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 ban starts from the date of violation, which occurred on 8 April 2023.
