Flamengo announces that Gabigol can return to play after suspension of sentence for anti-doping fraud

The red-black club claims that the attacker’s defense achieved a suspensive effect through a unanimous decision

O Flamengo announced through his social networks that the attacker Gabigol is free to return to training and playing for the club after his defense managed to suspend his two-year sentence on the sidelines. He had been punished, in March, by the Anti-Doping Sports Justice Court (TJD-AD) for trying to cheat the exam anti-doping.

“Athlete Gabriel Barbosa is free to play in competitions played by Flamengo. The attacker’s defense achieved the suspensive effect by unanimous decision”, the Rio club published on X.

Gabigol was accused of attempting to defraud a doping control test, at the Flamengo Training Center, in Ninho do Urubu, in Rio, on April 8, 2023, the day before the classic with Fluminense, for the Campeonato Carioca. He was convicted of violating article 122 of the Brazilian Anti-Doping Code, which deals with fraud or attempted fraud in any part of the doping control procedure.

Gabigol allegedly made it difficult to carry out the exam, by hindering the work of the officers responsible for collecting urine, disrespecting them and not following the appropriate procedures from the beginning of the process, at 8:40 am. The other players in the Flamengo squad, according to reports added to the complaint, underwent the exam before the 10 am training session.

The Brazilian Doping Control Authority (ABCD) carries out “surprise doping” at Brazilian clubs’ training centers regularly during the season. Gabigol received the first notification about the attempted fraud on May 30th. It is prohibited to refuse or fail to submit to sample collection after notification.

The accusation points out that the Flamengo striker tried to hide his genitals when urinating in the bowl, which constitutes fraud. The player’s test was negative for doping, but authorities reported that the athlete ignored the presence of ABCD officials, in addition to being disrespectful.

The two-year sentence, imposed by the TJD-AD by 5 votes to 4, would begin to run on the day the disagreement occurred, on April 8, 2023, and would have a practical effect, therefore, of just one year, ending on April 7, 2025.