AFCON 2021 – Côte d’Ivoire: Sylvain Gbohouo suspended for doping
Côte d’Ivoire goalkeeper Sylvain Gbohouo will finally not take part in the 2021 AFCON. The Wolkite City Football Club goalkeeper has been suspended by the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) for using a banned substance.
He had been named in Patrice Beaumelle’s squad for the upcoming tournament in Cameroon, which begins on January 9.
“FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee has announced that it has temporarily banned Sylvain Gbohouo in a message sent to the Ethiopian Football Federation,” the statement began.
“Trimetazidine was found [in a urine sample given in November], a substance that has been banned for athletes since 2014.
“The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has passed the following decision on the player: Gbohouo will be temporarily banned worldwide from the day the decision was announced.
“The temporary ban includes national or international competition,” the statement continued. “The temporary ban will be decided by FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee.”
Trimetazidine is found in medicines that help treat heart disease and angina among other conditions, and can only be used by athletes if they have received a ‘Special Medical Use Exemption’ from the World Anti-Doping Agency.
