World Cup winner Papu Gomes, 35, of AC Monza, has tested positive for doping.
“After a first hearing of the Anti-Doping Committee, FIFA has handed down a two-year ban to Gomes,” Monza said on its website on Monday (Nov. 21).
Gomes was detected with the banned substance terbutaline in a doping test last October when he was playing for Sevilla. Terbutaline is widely used to treat lung diseases such as asthma, bronchitis, and emphysema.
Gomes explained that the drug was taken to relieve bronchospasm caused by a cold. However, terbutaline is banned for athletes due to its bronchodilator effect.
Argentina’s Gomes tests positive for doping after winning the World Cup in Qatar
Argentina’s Gomes tested positive for doping after winning the World Cup in Qatar
Gomes is an Argentine midfielder who broke into the Italian Serie A with Catania in 2010. After making 111 appearances in three seasons with Catania, Gomes moved to Atalanta in 2014, where he reached his peak.
His work rate and intelligence in the middle of the park helped Atalanta to reach their peak. In seven seasons with Atalanta, Gomes scored 59 goals in 252 appearances. During this time, Atalanta went from a mid-table Serie A team to a UEFA Champions League qualifier.
Gomes reached career highs with 16 goals and 10 assists in the 2016-17 season for Atalanta. He continued to produce close to double-digit attacking points in subsequent seasons, establishing himself as an attacking midfielder in the center and on the flanks. This earned him his first call-up to the Argentina national team in 2017.
Argentina’s Gomes tests positive for doping after winning World Cup in Qatar
Argentine World Cup winner Gomes tested positive for doping in Qatar
Gomes’ success continued. He won two Serie A assists, one Serie A best midfielder, and one Serie A team of the year before moving to Sevilla in the Spanish Primera Liga in 2021. At Sevilla, Gomes was utilized as a first-team regular, scoring 10 goals in 90 games. He also won the UEFA Europa League in the 2022-23 season.
After joining Sevilla, Gomes returned to the Argentine national team and competed at last year’s FIFA World Cup in Qatar. He played two games in the tournament, helping Argentina win their third World Cup title.
For now, Gomes’ doping problem didn’t start during the World Cup. He submitted to a test in Sevilla before the tournament, but Spanish media outlet Relevo said, “Maybe he was on drugs when he won the World Cup and the Europa League. He could be stripped of the medals he won in both competitions.”
Argentina’s Gomes tested positive for doping after winning the World Cup in Qatar
Argentina’s Gomes tested positive for doping after winning the World Cup in Qatar
Gomes returned to familiar territory in Italy ahead of this season. Monza made a splash last season, finishing 11th in Serie A for the first time in their history. The 35-year-old veteran added experience to the squad, but Gomes’ positive doping test derailed their plans.
The two-year suspension puts Gomes on the verge of retirement, which is unlikely given his age of 35.
Argentina’s Gomes tests positive for doping after winning the World Cup in Qatar 굿모닝토토 도메인