Monza has confirmed that World Cup winner Papu Gomez has been given a two-year ban from football by FIFA after allegedly taking a banned substance.
The Serie A side said “Terbutaline was found in the footballer’s biological samples”. Gomez went to the World Cup with Argentina, where he started in their first group match and the round of 16 win over Australia as they won the tournament for a third time.
A statement from Monza read: “AC Monza announces that it has received today – October 20 2023 – from FIFA, through the FIGC, notification of the first degree sentence of the Spanish Anti-Doping Commission, issued against the footballer Alejandro Dario Gomez.
“The sentence includes a two-year disqualification from sporting activities.
“This was a drug taken to calm a bronchospasm crisis, in October 2022, when the player was a member of Sevilla FC.
“AC Monza reserves the right to evaluate the next procedural steps.”
The 35-year-old left Sevilla by mutual consent in September, with one year remaining on his contract. Later in the month, he signed for Monza.
Gomez left former club Atalanta in December 2020 after falling out with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini. He moved to Sevilla the following month, where he made 90 appearances before returning to Italy.
The attacking midfielder has won 17 caps for Argentina having made his debut in 2017.
The Athletic has contacted Argentine Football Association (AFA) for comment.
(Photo: Emmanuele Ciancaglini/Ciancaphoto Studio/Getty Images)
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