From collection to suspension, Gabigol was involved in controversies and lost space at Flamengo in one year | Flamengo

The first year wearing Flamengo’s number 10 shirt was far from smooth for Gabigol. O ge detailed some of the attacker’s episodes from the day of the doping test to the day of the trial, which ended with a two-year suspended sentence. The accusation of attempted doping test fraud could change the course of his career, if it is not reversed by the CAS (Court of Arbitration for Sport).

Lawyer specializing in anti-doping speaks to Seleção about Gabigol’s suspension

The striker has experienced troubled moments over the last few months and, in addition to episodes off the field, he saw the moment worsened by poor performance within the four lines. From starter, captain and number 10, the player was questioned due to his bad phase and started to live on the bench. All this in what could be the last months of his contract with the club.

The collection took place on April 8, 2023, shortly before Carioca’s final against Fluminense. The testing team appeared unexpectedly at the CT to perform the procedure. Gabigol, like the rest of his teammates, tested negative in the blood test and urine test.

The striker and the vice-president of football argued bitterly during half-time of the game with Fortaleza, on July 1, 2023. Gabigol was injured alone due to the pitch and, in the dressing room, directed the charges towards Braz, who retorted.

And do not stop there. The atmosphere, which was already tense, heated up even more when doctor Márcio Tannure informed that Gabigol would have to undergo a post-game anti-doping test. The attacker, who was already dissatisfied, grumbled even more. Braz didn’t like it, he retorted and the discussion gained a new chapter.

The 28th anniversary celebration had police at the door due to the protest made by a group of Flamengo fans. The red-blacks criticized Gabigol’s birthday celebration amid the crisis at the club, which had been eliminated from the Libertadores a few days earlier. At the time, Gerson was insulted by the fans and Erick Pulgar’s car was broken.

Furthermore, Gabigol took the opportunity to release a new song: “O Que Você Quer De Mim?”, together with DJ Zullu and trapper JF.

After being eliminated in the Libertadores by Olimpia, Gabigol gave an interview and complained about the refereeing. The attacker said that Flamengo “was robbed” in the round of 16 and hinted at the fact that Conmebol’s headquarters are in Paraguay, in the city of Luque.

The Conmebol Disciplinary Unit imposed a punishment for the statement. Gabigol was fined US$20,000, equivalent to R$99,400 at the current rate (an amount that is deducted from the club’s own share of broadcasting rights), and was also warned of more serious punishments in case of recurrence. .

It took months of conversations until the parties agreed on the renewal. In October, Flamengo and Gabigol reached an agreement for a contract until December 2028 and a salary increase, as the striker had not received a raise since signing with the club in 2020. The document, however, was never signed.

The news of the agreement for a long renewal was questioned by a section of the board, mainly due to the moment the striker is going through in 2023. The club chose to wait to return to talks to sign the contract.

This was the most complicated season since arriving at Flamengo. The striker played 56 games (43 as a starter), scored 20 goals and provided four assists. Gabigol fluctuated in the starting lineup with Vítor Pereira and ended the year as a substitute with Tite. Three of the four missed penalties in 2023 happened after April 8.

The outlier of Gabigol’s difficult season was the record achieved on May 4 last year. With a beautiful goal scored in the 1-1 draw with Racing, he became the top scorer among Brazilians who competed in the Libertadores. There are 31 in total.

Participation in ‘PodPah’ gave people something to talk about. Gabigol commented a little on his relationship with Tite and revealed conversations with the coach because he was dissatisfied with the few opportunities. Furthermore, the striker praised the Corinthians fans, just when the São Paulo club expressed interest in signing him.

Eight months after the collection, there was a complaint. Gabigol was accused of attempted fraud in the anti-doping test carried out on April 8, 2023. In the complaint, the Prosecutor of the Anti-Doping Sports Court stated that the red and black attacker harmed the work of the officials at Ninho do Urubu in several ways. Therefore, the player was placed in violation of article 122 of the Brazilian Anti-Doping Code, which refers to “fraud or attempted fraud of any part of the control process”.

Since October 2023, when Tite arrived at the club, Gabigol has played in 15 games of the 23 games that the coach led. The attacker started just two. There were just 455 minutes on the field and just two goals scored.

The number 10 started among the starters against Sampaio Corrêa and Volta Redonda – games in which the coach used the reserve team. But Gabigol only stayed on the field for the 90 minutes against Sampaio Corrêa. Interestingly, the striker scored in these two matches.

Flamengo thrashed Boavista on February 20th and the dressing room was marked by a scolding from Tite at Gabigol. The coach called the attacker out for his behavior before Pedro’s missed penalty kick, when the game was still 2-0.

Tite made a disciplinary correction to Gabigol, one of the first to leave the field after the final whistle, in front of everyone. The coach didn’t like what he saw during the penalty and, without his idol retorting, he said that nothing revolves around him, that Flamengo is more important than everyone else and that personal desires cannot harm the club. He asked for attitude and respect for the shirt that Gabigol wears.

In a close vote (5×4), Gabigol ended up being sentenced to two years of suspension for attempted fraud in the anti-doping test. As there was a substantial delay, the penalty starts from the day of collection, meaning the attacker will only serve one year on the sidelines.

Gabigol is suspended for attempted anti-doping fraud

With the help of Flamengo, the player will appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), the FIFA court in Switzerland. The club believes that the court will make a technical judgment and that Gabigol will be acquitted. No provision for the new trial.

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