Argentina World Cup winner Alejandro ‘Papu’ Gomez has been hit with a two-year suspension for failing a drug test, reportedly due to his consumption of children’s sickness syrup in the lead-up to the tournament.
Gomez, along with Lionel Messi and the team, clinched football’s most coveted trophy with a dramatic penalty shootout victory over France in the final last December.
However, it has now come to light that he failed a drug test for a banned substance shortly before the World Cup began in November 2022.
Gomez and his former club, Sevilla, were informed of the failed test several months ago, but the official sanction of a two-year ban was issued this week.
The 35-year-old attributed the failed test to his consumption of his children’s sickness syrup without consulting Sevilla’s medical staff, following a restless night’s sleep. Unfortunately, this explanation did not suffice to avoid the suspension.
Gomez now faces the decision of whether to appeal the verdict in an attempt to reduce or overturn his ban. This news is a setback for Serie A side Monza, who had signed Gomez as a free agent just last month.
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His contract with Sevilla had been terminated on the final day of the summer transfer window, concluding his two-and-a-half-year tenure with the club, during which they secured a Europa League victory last season.
Gomez is best known for his time at Atalanta from 2014 to 2021. During his stint with the club, he made 252 appearances and scored 59 goals, leading them to their first-ever entry into the Champions League. He left the Italian club in early 2021 following a falling out with manager Gian Piero Gasperini.
It seemed like he could conclude his career on a positive note in Serie A with Monza, but he has only made two substitute appearances since joining them and now faces a substantial ban.
