Source:REUTERS/Cristina Vega
[Saba Sports News] Recently, Argentine veteran Alejandro ‘Papu’ Gomez spoke to the media about his two-year doping ban in 2023. In October 2022, while playing for Sevilla, Gomez tested positive for a banned substance. He had taken his son’s cough syrup without the consent of the club or team doctors. When the verdict was announced in October 2023, Gomez had just signed with Monza and had only made two Serie A appearances. During his ban, he was allowed to train with Serie C side Renate. Now just over a month away from returning to play, the 37-year-old said: “You get a six-month ban for cocaine, marijuana… and I get two years for my son’s cough syrup? Who could have imagined that? But well, I swallowed my pride and now I’m working hard to return.” Gomez also revealed: “The first few months were very hard. I didn’t understand why this happened to me at the peak of my career, right after winning the World Cup. But life sometimes hits you with these blows and surprises, and it actually motivated me. Why should two or three people in suits who have never played sports decide when I should retire? At first, I didn’t even want to watch football; I would always turn off the TV. It felt like football had died for me.”