A Brazil international has released a statement after he was slapped with a two-year football ban on Monday.
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Flamengo forward Gabriel Barbosa, formerly of Inter Milan and Benfica, has been handed a two-year suspension from the sport following a doping fraud investigation.
The 27-year-old will return to action in April 2025, with Brazil's anti-doping body deciding to punish the player from when his violation occurred in April 2023.
Barbosa is alleged to have made it difficult for anti-doping officers to test him, with it reported it took him hours to actually provide a sample.
His erratic behaviour is believed to have alerted authorities, who said on Monday, according to Reuters, that "the aforementioned athlete was judged today by the Anti-Doping Sports Court of Justice (TJD-AD) and, by a majority vote, it was decided that a violation of the anti-doping rule of attempted fraud had occurred".
The forward has since issued a statement of his own on social media, in which he states he will appeal the ruling.
"Despite my respect for the court, I stress that I never tried to obstruct or fraud any test. I trust that I will be found not guilty in my appeal," he wrote.
"Since the beginning of my career as a footballer, I always followed the rules of the game and I never used prohibited substances. I have been a subject of dozens of tests, they all came negative, which shows my commitment with my club and with Brazilian fans."
Flamengo have stated they will help the player, who has been capped on 18 occasions for the Selecao, challenge the verdict.
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Following a failed stint in Europe, Barbosa has found joy back in Brazil, having contributed to an impressive 181 goals in 261 appearances for Mengao.
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