Argentine international Papu Gomez has been banned from football for two years for taking children’s cough syrup.
The anti-doping authorities have sanctioned Papu Gomez, imposing a two-year penalty. The former Sevilla footballer, who transferred to Monza this year, tested positive for a banned substance in a November 2022 test.
The player and the Andalusian club were made aware of the news by UEFA months ago. But it was only this week that he received the sanction, which might mean the end of his athletic career.
What Drug Did Papu Gomez Intake?
According to the former Sevilla player’s version of events, he felt poorly and took a cough medication for children without first consulting with the club’s physicians.
In theory, it would be a B2-adrenergic agonist, similar to salbutamol. As a result, the footballer’s irresponsibility could have been the issue.
Sevilla, upon learning of the situation, terminated his contract. When he became available, the Argentine signed with Monza until June 2024.
Since then, the footballer has won the World Cup with Argentina and the UEFA Europa League with Sevilla in Budapest. As a result, the sentence jeopardizes his professional future.
The Argentine initially arrived in Italy in 2010, when he joined Catania, managed by Diego Pablo Simeone. After a spell in Ukraine, he returned to Serie A to play for Gasperini’s Atalanta… where he played his finest football… but his most recent stay in Italy did not end well.
Such occurrences not only harm the reputations of those involved but also throw doubt on the effectiveness of anti-doping measures in professional sports.
Fans were ecstatic about Papu Gomez’s recent move to Monza, believing it would be a significant boost to the club, but now the World Cup champion must traverse this era on his own.
