BAR BLIMEY
Brazil international star Gabriel Barbosa banned for two years for ‘doping test fraud’ with striker set to appeal
The ban means he could be without a club by the end of the year
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BRAZIL international Gabriel "Gabigol" Barbosa has been suspended for two years after a doping fraud investigation.
An investigation carried out by the Anti-Doping Sports Court of Justice voted 5-4 against the ex-Inter Milan striker, 27.
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It relates to his behaviour during a surprise drug test on April 8 last year, one day before his Flamengo side played in the Rio de Janeiro state championship.
Anti-doping officers turned up to test players at the training ground but were largely ignored by Barbosa - who took his test hours after his team-mates.
He can appeal the decision to ban him until April 2025 - a sentence backdated from last year despite him being active during this period.
Barbosa, who was linked with West Ham in 2022, joined Flamengo permanently from Inter Milan in 2020 after loan spells with Benfica and Santos.
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He scored just one goal in 10 appearances with Inter and was considered a flop following his £25million move.
But he resurrected his career by returning to Brazil, scoring 155 goals in 276 games for Flamengo.
And his impressive performances earned him a spot back in the Brazil squad in 2021 - having played just once since 2016.
He earned 12 caps in 2021, scoring three goals, and was a part of the squad that lost the Copa America final to Argentina.
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But he made just one appearance for Brazil in 2022 and has not featured since.
He was left out of Brazil's squad for the World Cup in Qatar.
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And, following his doping ban, an unsuccessful appeal could leave his career in turmoil as his Flamengo contract expires at the end of 2024.