Papu Gomez, Argentine Midfielder |
Argentine World Cup-winning midfielder Papu Gomez has vehemently denied any wrongdoing in the wake of a positive doping test and subsequent two-year ban imposed by Fifa. Gomez attributes the positive test result to inadvertently ingesting his son's cough syrup, absolving any intention of using banned substances.
In a statement posted on Instagram, Gomez stated, "I have never used, nor ever had any intention of using doping methods." The 35-year-old, who currently plays for Italian club Monza, expressed his disbelief at the doping allegations.
The banned substance in question, terbutaline, was discovered in a sample taken from Gomez during his time at Sevilla in October 2022. Gomez joined Monza in September and has since made two appearances for the club.
Gomez and his club have both emphasized that terbutaline, while a banned substance, is allowed for therapeutic use by professional athletes, with no direct performance-enhancing properties. They assert that the presence of terbutaline in Gomez's system was an inadvertent consequence of consuming his son's cough syrup.
Furthermore, Gomez indicated that he is exploring potential legal action, suggesting that his case was not handled in accordance with regulations.
Gomez, a notable figure in Argentine football, made two appearances for the national team during their victorious World Cup campaign in Qatar last December.
He is perhaps best known for his contributions to Italian club Atalanta, with whom he helped secure Champions League qualification during his seven-year tenure in Bergamo.
As the player faces a two-year ban, he retains the right to appeal the decision. Terbutaline is typically used for medical purposes to prevent bronchospasm in patients with conditions such as asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, and other respiratory ailments.
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